The F450 is essentially a Medium Duty truck that Ford stuck in a light duty class. If Ford were to rate it properly many states would consider it commercial. That's why the F450 has a lower payload rating. it weighs more, but the GCVW can't exceed 14500 pounds. it's all a numbers game for taxes and registrations.
They F450 is built on the same Frame with the same rear leaf springs and the same rear axle housing! While I won't disagree the tires and wheels can support more weight than the F350 the bottom line is they are built on the same bones and are both Class 3 trucks! It is not a numbers game it was a way sell a higher trim F350 that they call an F450! The real F450 is a Class 4 truck rated at 16,500lbs!
@@PavingNewPaths I think you misunderstand. I was replying to the original poster. I would never overload a truck. The previous guy thought he could do that with a 450
Thanks for the video! I own both an F350 and a 2022 F450. I definitely agree on the ride comments. My comparison is between a 22 F450 and 20 F350 dually. You talked a lot about the weights of the trucks but more simply, the difference between the pay load is only because the F450 is heavier due to the wide track steering components, heavier wheels/tires, brakes and rear end differential. In other words, since the mfg keeps both trucks at a 14K GVW, the payload is the difference between the weight of the truck and the GVW. I would argue that if the mfg did not de-rate both trucks, the F450 would hands down have a higher payload mainly because of the much bigger brakes that can stop a heavier payload. “Handling a bigger weight” should also include brake capacity, tire weight capacity and ability to accelerate which you did not discuss. You can’t put a price on safety and while you touched on a lot of good points, the extra braking power, tire weight capacity and the pulling power of the bigger/heavier 4.30 rear end of the F450 was not really considered in “which can handle more weight” in the video (big omission IMO). You mainly looked at “payload” which is not the whole story when looking at which is better for pulling 20K lbs. Lastly, I have never heard a F450 owner wish they had bought a F350 but I have heard plenty of F350 owners wish they had an F450.
Thank you! I think both trucks are great, we wanted the F450 but in every scenario we would be overweight! They are both class 3 vehicles rated at 14,000lbs so at the end of the day it doesn't matter what they may be rated for they are in the same class, making the F350 more capable in terms of payload and with the 4:10 rear end it can tow more as well! When towing big RV's you will max out payload well before you get anywhere near the max towing capacity of either truck! Also when towing any trailer, your truck brakes are not stopping the trailer, that is what the trailer brakes are for! I made this video because the F450 PU is not an F450 it is an F350 with some extra features that make it less capable! The actual Class 4 F450 that is rated at 16,500lbs is a more capable truck, but the F450 everyone buys is not that truck!
@@jerryfisher9530 With these two trucks it's virtually the same mileage! The F350 has 4:10 rear end! If you had a 3:73 or 3:55 it would be much better! Both trucks get around 18 empty anf 8-9 loaded!
LMAO at "Ford put more components on the F450 to make it less capable". You put wayyy too much weight on the 14k gvwr, instead of important things like brakes, wheels, axles and steering.
Thank you! This was the most time-consuming video I have made yet! The planning took a few days! Almost 12 hours of filming, and over a week of editing! It was fun but a lot of work to put videos like this together!
As a longtime operator of a 379 Peterbilt I would choose the 450 both trucks meaning the Fords are rated on paper as the same. But the 450 is made to do maximum work all day every day , The 350 is for the weekend warrior . The difference and ride quality is mainly due to the profile of the sidewall of the tires. Taller sidewall has more deflection and is less stable under loads also tread pattern where is a thing on high profile tires. That is why the 450 has the larger wheel size and a shorter sidewall more miles per tire. so if you’re just towing your camper to Florida once a year or Arizona and you go camping occasionally the 350 will probably be fine. But if you’re a full-time RV or I would not pass up the 450 the price is very close when comparably equipped same motor same transmission. By the way nice job on the video I watch the entire thing before I come in it and I think you did a thorough job.
I would love to build a highbred 379 Pete I can imagine the power of the electric motors in a big truck. Kind of reminds me of a locomotive and how powerful those are. There are some people building highbred semi tractors, but it’s in its infancy I think it will game in popularity but it’s gonna be slow. From a maintenance level I think it would be superior.
I prefer my 2017 Ford F450 XL over any F350! It has far fewer options than the other trim levels which makes it lighter and results in a little over 5,000 pounds of payload capacity. The larger brakes, exhaust brake, awesome turning radius, and beefier rear axles give give me peace of mind while towing our 43-foot Keystone Fuzion 417 toy hauler. I've towed our RV for nearly 9,000 miles through the mountains, through very tight campgrounds with overhanging tree canopy, etc. and it does it all with ease!
You sir have the best one as you have the upgraded features and the payload capacity! We wanted the F450 but because of payload we went with the F350! Since we live and travel full time we wanted the comforts of the top trim levels! Our F350 came with 4:10 rear end and when mated to the 10 speed it pulls great! We have traveled over 20,000 miles towing through the mountains out west and never worried about power or controlling our rig! They are both great trucks just what works best for your set up!
Tim, if you did not have a trailer to pull, would you still be buying F450 over F350? Currently, I drive 2020 DRW 6.7 Lariat and is planning to put the order in for 2023 Super duty. I do not pull, but do carry up to about 3500 lbs few times in each month. I do drive pretty fast when freeway opens up. Did you do any after market for TPMS? Are you having any vibration type of issue on your tires? Are you having hard time to find the tire shop to do the maintenance on your F450?
@@wj2791 Yes, I had to add a Tireminder TPMS, I needed it for my triple axle toy hauler anyway. If not towing a large RV, the F350 is a MUCH better choice! The 4.30 axle ratio of the F450 is a huge negative if not towing a large rig. The F350 has factory TPMS, smoother riding non-commercial tires, a much better axle ratio for cruising at highway speeds and likely better fuel economy than the F450.
@@timpayne431I let my heart make the decision over my head. I did order F450 Limited. :) I will probably install Centramatic in the front and will look further into Tireminder TPMS for the truck.
The difference is in 3 areas. 1. Traction for stopping and slippery surfaces. 2. Braking. Bigger brakes means more control and shorter distances. 3. Turning radius. The 350 wont stop as fast an an emergency and won’t grip as well with less rubber on the road. The rear width is a bonus in windy conditions as it sways less with 4 tires.
Got an '17 F-350 XLT and pulled out RV's from Indiana for a couple of years...After 360K miles, all I can say, is the only problem is the turning radius. Besides that...All good...
The F350 is the best truck to have if you need to handle the heavy pin weight of the big fifthwheels! Get it with a 4:10 rearend and it can out tow the F450 as well! Turning is fine when I am towing, I have never been pulling our 44ft trailer and wished I could turn sharper! It would be nice to have the turning when driving in town without the trailer!
Going from a SRW F-350 short bed King Ranch to a F-450 Platinum, I noticed the ride was actually much better. In either case the DRW is a better riding truck than a SRW. Tire cost is an issue, especially with the tighter turning radius causing tire scrub, which the factory Conti's do not hold up to well. Putting a proper steer tire on, goes a long way for lasting tires. Roadmaster has them for under $250, which is about what tires for a SRW with 20's cost. IT is the turning that sold me on the truck, I live off a narrow county road with ditches on either side, and the SRW SB would be nose in the ditch backing my trailer in, the LB would be even worse, but now, it skirts the ditch, that 8' makes a huge difference. There are some sacrifices you have to consider, the 4.30 gears are fuel hogs, and are needed for spinning those massive wheels, and a bit harsher ride, but still better than the SRW SB. That is really what it all comes down to between the two. If the larger turning radius works for you, the F-350 DRW is the better choice.
Both trucks are amazing, and if we didn't need the payload capacity of the F350 we would be in an F450! We think the turning radius is awsome, but I have never not been able to put this RV where I wanted it! I think you get used to the truck you have and learn how to make it work! With the 4:10 gears our effective ratio is the same when you factor in the difference in tire size! We think 18 mpg is amazing for a dually!
I have the best 09 F350 on the road...that's I pulled that POS 6.4 out of it and put in a 6.7 Cummins....it is a beast and does great off road or on the highway. It is SRW and I use it to haul my 2015 Northern Lite Truck Camper...been using it for 7 years now 7 months out of the year and it carries that TC like it was built for it.
The biggest thing I've seen is no matter what 450 trim level you buy, they all start out with the same "bones" whereas a 350 you have to spec it out and ensure the proper tow packages are installed. Much easier, in my humble opinion, to buy a 450. It's all ready to go. Just how much comfort/convenience you desire on the trim package.
We are talking about the version that everyone is using to pull the big RV's nowadays! That is usually a lariat and up trim package for both, so having to "work" to spec them out is not a thing! You are right both the F350 and F450 start out as the same bones and use most of the same parts! When it is done The F450 is a very nice truck but it is an F350 with some nice upgraded that make it less capable for what the truck is being used for! Pulling heavy Fifth wheels with 4k plus pin weight!
@@PavingNewPaths Completely understand the "version" of the 350 everyone is using. My point is no matter what trim level 450 you buy it IS the right version already. No need to spec out anything. Plug n Play. You buy a 450 it's ready to tow. No need to make sure it has dual rear wheels, etc..like you do on a 350. 😎
@@randymoy5190 choosing a drw 350 when specing the trucks takes the same work as choosing a 450. There is a box you check for both if you want a 350 drw, or a 450. I suppose that 'drw' can make it hard since you have 3 extra letters you have to read. You make it sound as if you are sweating pointing the mouse and clicking.
@@randymoy5190 yeah you are right! I had to click another box on the order form and my finger cramped up. Not to mention I had to add the bedliner, choose limited trim, rapid supplemental heat and wheel well liners! Truly an exhausting 45 secs to do all that!
We've had our 2022 F350 now for a year towing a 42 foot 5th wheel, 2 axles. Yeah, sometimes I wish we'd gone with the 450, but I've learned how to drive it pretty good. Been in some very tight spots and making 1 or 2 adjustments isn't a big deal. I also know that the more options you add, the less you can haul, so we opted NOT to get the 4x4 and stuck with the XLT with the moon roof. The trucks done it's job superbly with just over 30k miles on her. Not sure why your F450 didn't have the upfitter switches, but the 22's came standard with them on the 450 from what we were told and saw. We love our truck, it does it's job and that's what matters.
The F350 is the better choice for towing these bigger RV's than the F450! The reason is the F450 pickup version is not actually a bigger more capable truck! It is just and F350 outfitted with some extra options that in turn make it a less capable truck in terms of Payload and also max towing if the F350 has a 4:10 rear end! The F450 is nice but if it has a bed on it you didn't get bigger better truck, you just got an optioned F350! Now there are a few out there that went with the actual F450 that is a class 4 truck and that one is a bigger and better truck! But it is a work truck and doesn't come with very nice creature comforts on the interior!
You really nailed this topic and provided real world data with realtime opinions from you guys who have awesome rigs! Thank you for the hard work producing this and making sure it is interesting.
Depending on what you use the truck for....yes the f450 does turn sharper than the f350 (BUT) the biggest thing in my book is the wheels and tires and brakes on the f450. I've had both and will definitely stay with the f450 period! Yes the f350 can haul more weight than the f450 but hauling running is one thing but when it comes to stopping and handling your not going to beat the f450. That's my opinion I run the road pulling a 40ft gooseneck and yes I need the stopping power of the f450!
@@PavingNewPaths yes sir it all depends on your usage! I was considering on another f350 just for weight difference but when you start decending those steep mountains yes and exhaust brake is a help but if you really need to get on the binders because of an accident or something out of the ordinary those big brakes make all the difference!
Great video! We towed a 5th wheel with a 2017 F450 with ease. There are some fundamental differences between an F350 and F450, such as commercial grade tires, suspension and wider front axle. Both have the same or similar tow/capacity ratings, however with the wider front axle the F450 has a much tighter turning radius, quite surprising really for such a big truck, which is very useful in many of the tight campgrounds there are these days.
Both trucks are great and the turning radius is amazing on the F450! We wanted the F450 but because we teavel fulltime in our RV we needed the payload capacity of the F350!
@@PavingNewPaths The only reason why the payload is heavier on the F350 is because it’s a lighter truck. Both having to be within the 14,000 pound limit. But aside from technical numbers the F450 can carry handle more payload it’s just can’t be published because of the weight restrictions on that class of truck. Mainly the commercial grade tires, I think there is some difference in the axles that makes it a heavier truck.
@@skoffco It is still a class 3 truck rated at 14,000 gvwr! Both trucks are built on the same frame with the same suspension! Yes the F450 has tires and rims rated higher than 14k but you don't use the highest rating to determine what a machine is capable of! The F350 tires and rims are also capable of more than 14k but for some reason the F450 logic does not apply to the F350 only the F450 is capable of more than 14k!
lets face it, my guess is 75%of the people who own these trucks and campers pay cash, in turn you could afforg to swap axles and add some fender flares for coverage if needed. and 99% of DOT doesnt stop non commerical vechiles so I would maybe through it out there that with good air bags or a kelderman systme Dot would prob not say much if you were a couple G's over....but if your a hotshot driver you better be under
Having recently had both, the F450 squats less than the F350 DRW under the same load (fifth wheel). Although both are 14k GVWR and the F450 weighs more, giving it a lower CCC on paper, everyone knows that the F450 is derated to keep it listed as a Class 3 truck. And for those bigger trailers, the larger brakes on the F450 make it an excellent choice.
Since the F450 and the F350 have the same rear springs, they will squat exactly the same! In my video the F350 squatted 1/4 more but that is due to the fact I have an additional 490lbs worth of stuff in my bed and under my bed over the F450! All the F450 owners want to believe so bad that the truck is derated and that Ford made a special truck for them and listed it at 14K to keep it a class 3! Thats all opinion the fact is the truck is built on the same frame, same rear springs and same axle housing so if the F450 is derated so is the F350! At the end of the day the truck is a class 3 truck rated at 14K GVWR, the opinion of what you think it is does not matter! And lastly when towing a trailer, the trucks brakes do not stop the trailer, that's why you have trailer brakes! When you set it up correctly the trailer will stop the trailer and the truck will stop the truck!
@@johnhwang339 We fail to mention these trucks are full of so much technology that having a brake failure wouldn't just sneak up on you anymore! These trucks both the F450 and F350 will alert you if the trailer plug became disconnected and even if you had a wiring problem or short! Even if the brakes on the trailer failed, the exhaust brake combined with the tow mode of the 10speed make these trucks more than capable!
Made a lot of good points- there are people who are thinking 450 vs 350 and probably think "Oh, 4 > 3, 450's obviously the way to go!" But it's not that simple. Something else to consider(That I've noticed quite a few people forget) is that the numbers advertised(AND in the towing guides) are for base model trucks. As you implied when you were talking about both trucks being overloaded with 20' campers, and their being bigger campers out there- your Lariats, King Ranches, Platinums, etc can't (legally) tow the same amount of weight as say, an XL. So like you said, your options are to either move to a beefier truck(commercial truck territory), or give up some of those creature comforts and go down to a Lariat or better yet(for payload), XLT or XL, where you'll then be well within the limits on both trucks(But on longer trips I don't blame people wanted more creature comforts lol)
glad you liked the video! This is why wr made it most belive the F450 is bigger because the number, when infact it is smaller, in terms of towing capacity and payload! It is true the less option truck can do the most work! We have basically maxxed out our F350 platinum with a 20k trailer! If we went bigger we would need more truck!
I own a 2020 F450 Limited that I upgraded from an F250. I tow a 14k 5th wheel which was right at the limit of the F250. The F450 tows and stops this rig with much more confidence. I did upgrade the fuel tank from a 48 gallon tank to a 68 gallon tank (love this upgrade). I went with a 20k Reese gooseneck and ball setup for a number of reasons. I have access to to my full bed. Saves on the payload weight and for me, the gooseneck seemed much more confidence inspiring when hooking up than a king pin and 5th wheel hitch (no tug test needed). I will say one draw back to the F450 are the 19.5” commercial tires. They tend to track the grooves and ruts in the road which can be nerve wracking. Also limited options on tires and places to purchase and install ( you can’t just go to a Discount Tire). Also no TPMS option from factory on F450, I bought an after market TPMS system for truck and rig. Overall I love my F450.
We think the F450 is a great truck! For us we would have been over 14K with our set up that is why we went with the F350! We needed the payload capacity, since we travel fulltime as a family of 5, we are never going to be any lighter than we are now! We love the B and W as it is the easiest and best fifth wheel hitch on the market when it comes to hitching and unhitching no matter what angle! You also can never have a false positive connection as it will not lock unless it is right! It also allows me more adjustments as far as ride height and bed position when dialing in the ride! We think whatever truck works for you is the right truck!
@@jakethomas6583 The turning radius is awesome but imagine telling people you bought a less capable truck because it turns! The point is if you need the payload the f350 is the better choice! If you don't the F450 is also a great choice!
@@jakethomas6583 And the tire wear is way better with the 19.5 tires and the brakes are better the steering gear is bigger!the front frame1/2 is bigger ,same as chassis cab 450! .Your frame thing is wrong !
I've had both and we rodeo all over the US. Love the test, but now that I've had the 450, I'll never go back to a 350. The turning does it for me, along with the deeper gearing. It pulls as easily as my last 350 with was tuned and deleted. I see better fuel mileage with this stock 450 vs my stock 350. For me, I like the brakes, turning radius and the gearing. I've now had 2 different friends that have ordered 450s after driving mine.
I think maybe if the F350 didn't have the 4:10 there might have been more of a difference in the trucks! But an F350 with that rear end will out pull and have more payload than the F450! We wanted the F450 and were disappointed to learn that it is only a class 3 truck and because of the extra weight it is less capable than the F350! Now if they would make a true class 4, F450 with a bed and nice trims that would be the way to go!
First of all I want to say that was an excellent job you guys did and the numbers don't lie. Here's where I see the differences in the trucks if we're talking safety, starting at the ground the 350 has 10 ply tires the 450 has 14 ply tires you are nowhere near the Max capacity of the tires on the 450. Then let's go to the brakes the brakes are a lot larger on the 450 and yes the 350 can stop the trailer and truck but if your trailer comes unplugged or wires pinched on the trailer and you lose the brakes on the trailer the f-450 comes into play immediately safety Factor. As far as looks well I like the looks of the 19.5 in rims over the 17-in rims that right there friends is worth a dollar 2.98 at least. Well until you replace the tires and I can say that with experience I just put two michelin's on the front of my 2020 F450 $962 for two. I've been towing a Weekend Warrior toy hauler that is a 49 footer with a 17 ft garage and yes it's 49 ft. Let's just say it might have taken you more than two tries to back my trailer in that spot with a F350. I've had a few 450s I had a 2008 put 160,000 miles on. 2010 put 150,000 miles on it and it blew the engine. A 2016 and put 86,000 miles on it traded it in on a 2020 and it just rolled over 50,000 miles on it. I almost forgot the reason I was going with the 450s is the height of the bed rails my weekend warrior was a 2009 doesn't have the ground clearance the newer trailers have the 450 compared to the 350 the edge of the bed was pretty close to 3 in lower the Chevy was like 5 in taller and the Dodge was six or seven inches taller which made those not work with the trailer I have. The place she should have really compared to 350 and the 450 is in the Safeway parking lot once again that's where the 450 shines.I really do think you guys did a great job but one truck doesn't fit all jobs.
Thank you! Here is more numbers for you the rear tires on the F350 combined have a load capacity of 11,640lbs so they far exceed the rear axle rating of 9900lbs! The new trucks with the 10 speed, when in Tow mode with the exhaust brake on do such a great job of handling these trailers that I hardly ever rely on my brakes to do much but come to a complete stop! I do agree the 19.5 rims are way better looking than the 17's! We had issues with our RV and bedrail clearances when we first got it, and we ended up changing the pinbox on the RV to fix the issue! I will say the F450 is better for daily driving, but we have taken the F350 all over the place and the only time we have had problems was not because of turning, but more because maybe a dually shouldn't be there!
The F450 are 1.2 inch bigger on the back and 1inches bigger on the front. This is to compensate for the taller heavier tires. Overall braking power between the 2 trucks is the same. The taller heavier 19.5 inch tires take more brakes to stop.
You can get the GM with an AVAIL. MAX GVWR 23,500 lbs. The AVAIL. MAX GCWR 37,000 lbs. So it allows more payload but caps out the towing with the GCWR. Don't know all the Texas laws but I can tow a camper and since it is all personal use not for pay it is not CDL. If you get payed to tow then you would be CDL. Some states are more restrictive. Truck I had licensed dual use farm years ago I had to stay under the ag rules for weight not the CDL unless I transported interstate then I fell under CDL. People need to download the state drivers license and vehicle license regulations for their state and talk to the DMV or DOT with any questions they have. I still have people that say my truck with air brakes requires a CDL and there is no state law on air brakes in the state I have it licensed. Air brakes is part of the CDL test but not the state law for non commercial. There is so much confusing information given by dealerships even that it can really be confusing if you do not read the regs for your state to see what you need to do. Move up to a Medium Duty truck if you are towing heavy all the time is safer.
In Texas anything over 26,000lbs requires me to get a Class A Non CDL! If I was for hire, I would have to have a CDL! It is a really easy process you take a written exam and go do a driving test with your rig! I made the video to show that the RV's nowadays are getting so big they are outgrowing the trucks! A 20,000lb RV is at the upper limits of what an F350 and an F450 can handle! If you're going bigger it's time to get away from the Class 3 truck and get truck that is rated for more than 14K!
@@PavingNewPaths I agree when you are getting up to the 20K at least a medium duty truck is better. Most of the people that use a HDT or class 8 truck for pulling their RV get there vehicle plates and drivers license in South Dakota, no CDL or nonCDL class A is needed.
@@PavingNewPaths International has a Medium duty line that is not to big but would not have the horsepower you have now. They even have a blackcherry interior that looks pretty nice. Not the 6500 GM truck, I don't remember the model, I got to look one over about a year ago that was pulling a toy hauler.
They are both great trucks, but if you are going for a big heavy RV the best truck is the F350, if you need more then you need to look at the actual class 4, F450 that doesn't come with a bed! If you are considering the F450 that has a bed just realize it is not more capable than the F350!
i’ve had a 2020 F350 DWR and now a 2022 F450. If I had my choice to do it all again, it would be the F450 every day, all day. I absolutely love this truck!! Don’t notice a major difference in the ride. It’s not mainly about it’s turning radius in campgrounds, it’s the turning radius when using that truck as your every day vehicle driving in and out of parking lots of towns and tight spaces.
Both trucks are great but the bigger Rv you have and more payload you require the F350 is the better choice! The F450 pickup is just a less capable F350! If you actually needed the payload and towing ove that you need the actual class 4 F450 or bigger not the F450 pickup version!
@@PavingNewPaths I get all that. The pin weight on my Grand Design Solitude is 3,155 lbs plus all other payload in the truck added together well within the limit of the F450. I’m simply saying for me having owned an F350 and now the F450 the turning radius is a big plus when using the vehicle as an every day driver when Unhitched from the camper. And I must say, the wide front fenders and axles look bad ass. 😛😛
The soltitude line up is well within the capability of the F450! I made this video because I meet so many F450 owners with RV'S as big as mine or bigger and they all claim they needed the F450 for the capacity! Thats jusy not true if you needed the capacity you would have gone with an F350 or the actual class 4 F450! I won't take away from the turning radius but at the end of the day your still driving a dually and therefore turning is one thing but actually fitting is another!
I am in same exact shoes. I currently have 2020 F350 DRW and just ordered F450 Limited which will likely be ready in early 2023. How do you check air pressures? Did you add tire balancer?
@@wj2791 i use a typical style air gauge used by class 8 truck drivers. It’s about a foot long and has a 45° angle chuck on the backside. Purchased it at a truckstop I think. For balancing I have installed Centro-Matic balancers on the front only.
If you buy a new 450 or 550 if you register it as a RV insurance will be cheap and if you have truck camper you show them your RV and with a 5 th wheel the same if you don’t do this they register it ac a commercial truck and insurance will be really high. So don’t forget .
That really depends on the State! Here in Texas we couldn't get a class 3, F450 the one that is rated at 14k GVWR insured on a personal plan! Let alone the actual Class 4, F450 or the Class 5, F550! We almost changed our residency over this as we wanted the F450, that is until we realized the the F450 with a bed isn't a bigger truck at all! So we got the F350 and stayed Texans!
Great video as I own a 21 F450 Limited. #1 choice was the turning radius. And the beefed up brakes. It’s what ever package you can afford or find these days. Both 350 and 450 dually are great. Love those big hips on either one. I’m happy with my payload for what I tow. So carry on my friend. Get what’s suitable for you. Dislike when people bickering about mine is better. Choose what is better for you.
Exactly I was very neutral about both because we did originally want the F450! But because of payload we needed the F350! Thats exactly right you should get the truck that best fits your needs!
It is correct both are great. I had both pickups but I prefer the larger brakes and turning radius. I travel to Montana from South Texas and back in the winter. Not to mention the wind through Wyoming. Drive through there in the winter heading back south. It even pushed my Ram 3500 drw to the side while driving 45 mph. The F450 held the ground in the cross wind. I only drive at a max 65 pulling out triple axle XLR Thunderbolt. It pulls amazing even up and over the big long Mountain over from Raton NV to Trinidad Colorado.
@@terrypetersen4039 We also have the 4:10 in our truck making it the same max towing as the F450 so we know what you mean as we have pulled our RV all the way to Montana and back with no issues!
@@jimmaltese8513 All F450 have the 4:30 gear ratio! But an F350 with the 4:10 will have a higher max towing than the F450 because once you factor in the tire size they are esentially the ratio!
Thank you for doing this video. I'm purchasing a F350 diesel for pulling my 5th wheel. Total maxed out about 16,000lb. Some say not a diesel but I feel the diesel does a better job of towing. Thanks again for the video. You give it for the real people out there. Hug the kids.
Thank you! Glad you liked the video! Diesel will cost you more in maintenance and fuel, but I would never tow with a gas, especially if I was planning to tow alot!
The diesel or at least my 5.8 cummins will average out to 13 miles per gallon and it pulls like a mule at 1950?rpms and a gas motor would be 8 miles per gallon and the diesel would blow past that gas truck turning 5 grand rpm’s and the diesel just running at 1950 rpm’s and that’s where your fuel mileage comes from .
WOW That's a lot of work putting the video together. Thanks to you, Phil, and Eric for all yalls time! No dog in this fight since I have a gmc sierra 3500 Denali on the way but that was a great comparison, still not giving up my 2004 F250 Crew Cab 4x4👍 No matter what the sticker is what the truck is legally rated, ask any lawyer 😉
Thank you! It was a lot of work and a lot of fun! They are all great trucks and most likely all are capable of more than the 14K GVWR they are listed at! But I am a Ford Man!
The turning radius is amazing, but i don't know any situation where the truck turning sharper would help me when parking! Sure when in town with no trailer it can be make driving significantly easier! But with a 45 ft trailer behind me have never wished I could turn sharper!
We were all in on the F450, but we knew we would be close to maxing the truck out! In the end we decided the F350 was the better choice for the payload capacity! I have heard from several guys they spend so much time and money trying to get the 19.5-inch tires to balance and track right! I have even met several that went to 20inch rims so they could have better tire choices!
Many truck stops have 19.5 in stock. Many commercial trucks and trailers use them too. Southern Tire always has them as do many large tire dealers. Now finding a 17.5? In a good weight rating? Not going to happen!
We have a 39 foot toy hauler up here in Alaska and its payload is 17,500ish. It is absolutely the longest possible camper you would want and still be able to find a spot big enough in most campgrounds. I would think the f450 would make life a little easier and possibly be able to fit in a few more spots.
The F450 is a nice rig but since it is a class 3 truck if you have a 20k or bigger RV you will likely be overweight! I have also never had my trailer hooked up and wished I could turn sharper, it's very mich the opposite! Most of the time I wish i could turn bigger because I need the room for my trailer to make it!
Thanks for this video. Just what I needed to see. If I want more maneuverability I will get the 450, but if I want more payload it will be the 350. I'm thinking if I go with the 17K RV I may go with the 450, but if I ever think a 20K is in my future. I might as well get the 350. Since I don't have experience with driving dually's and it may prove to be a benefit for just general parking without a trailer. The 450 may just be the winner. Thanks again.
Both great trucks, we wanted the F450 but since we travel fulltime, our truck and the RV are both very heavy! We would have exceeded the payload of the F450 and been overweight all the time! We had to lose some weight in our RV when we first started to get our weight within the limits of the truck and the trailer!
You cant argue with what's printed on a door sticker but the 450's have bigger, heavier rate axles and larger brakes which is a fact and my guess a 450 has the same rated axles, brakes and actual numbers as the 550's do (19,000gvwr) just de-rated for consumer sales. I'll take my 450 over a 350 just because of that and gotta love the turning radius! We towed our 44ft 5th wheel with it for the first time a couple weeks ago and the towing was a big improvement over our 350 SRW but where it shined was the tight roads in the camp ground, trying to navigate trees and tight turns would have required several re-do's with any other truck.
I won't argue that they don't have upgraded components! But for the sake of a discussion on this if the F450 with its upgraded tires and rims, the larger axle shafts and 10 bolt hubs is rated for more than 14K so is the F350! They are built on the same frame with the same rear leaf springs! They also have the same axle housing just different shafts and hubs! The tires and rims for the F350 are also rated close to 12K! So, if were just throwing around ideas here and the F450 is really rated closer to 19K then the F350 is probably closer to 16,500! These are just our opinions though and when I made the video, I knew I couldn't use my opinion I had to use facts and data! Because of that, I used the door stickers and the ratings the truck was given by Ford for the video and it's also the reason we went with the F350 over the F450! We needed payload capacity! I will say there are a few times I would have liked the turning radius in campgrounds!
Awesome video! I went from a 2012 F-450 King Ranch to a 2019 F-350 XLT about 2 years ago. I do miss the 450’s turning radius, but the ride was brutal. I’ll take the 350 for the ride alone any day. My concern with all the manufacturers and all the weight numbers is this: how many people new or relatively new to RVing are buying trailers based on that 30,000+ pound towing capacity the manufacturers claim? Keep me away from the person towing that 26k# Luxe with an F-350!!! I’m in my 20th year towing full-profile 5th wheels - and I learn something from every video you publish. Keep it up!
First thank you for the compliments! We wanted the F450 but the math never worked out for us! No matter what we did we would always be overweight on the truck! We went with the F350 because we needed the payload capacity! Most people don't realize that you can max out an F350 and an F450 with a 20,000lb trailer! You will run out of your payload capacity well before you get to the max towing numbers as RV's are very pin heavy! If you have a LUXE you better show up with a class 4 or 5 truck! I think you would be overweight with the trailer empty!
Our Ford F350 and Momentum 410 (maiden voyage) were just resecued off of the I90 Turnpike in Mass by a Dodge 5500. I made a couple of Shorts and videos about our experience. In all, three very expensive tow bills to get from Orlando to Laconia, NH. We appreciate your video as we are contemplating upgrading to a F450, Dodge 5500 or perhaps a Frieghtliner.
If you have a 410 and are running at max capacity, the F350 is the better choice over the F450! Unless you are getting the actual F450 class 4 truck, but if your considering that I would look at the F550 or the dodge 5500 they are really set up to handle the weight and have capacity left over!
I really enjoyed your video and your comparisons. Unfortunately, I believe you missed several important points. I bought my F450 for a number reasons that most people have not pointed out. Something I found everyone seems to miss. The BRAKES on the F450 are so much better and bigger from a safety perspective and have fewer problems. Next, the wheels and tires are also a huge issue from a safety point of view. The brakes will stop you so much better in your time of need, then then ones equipped, on the F350. The tires will last much longer and take so much more abuse than the 17” version. I know the manufacturer only uses the 17” to comply with the government fuel Regulation and cost. Even with the 19” setup, I immediately change out the rotors and pads. By the way, the 19” tires are the biggest contributor to the rough ride. There are several other positive reasons to buy the F450 that I’ll write about later, or if someone out there is well-versed on the subject, I would love to hear their views. Ted
I will agree the F450 is a nice truck and we wanted one! However if you pull a big heavy RV the F350 is the better choice! I also love how every F450 owner will defend the truck based on the brakes the tires and rims! The tires and rims on the F350 are rated for more than 14k as well so it is an irrelevant point! The brakes also don't matter because everyone that tows knows the truck stops the truck and the trailer stops the trailer! The bottom line is your F450 pickup truck is just a marketing ploy by ford to get you to spend more money for a less capable F350! If you wanted an F450 you should have bought the actual F450 class 4 truck rated at 16k!
I have been researching the differences in the F450 & F350 for almost a year now and this is by far the best video out there on actual comparisons. Thank you so much and great video. We are waiting on the order banks to open up in October to order our new F450. We will be upgrading to the Grand Design Solitude 390RK once we get the truck. We went to a dealership a while back to drive both a F350 & F450 to compare for ourselves. Even the dealer made the comment that the F450 had more cargo capacity and I had to correct him that actually it had less since it weighed more. But your video helped me be more confident in our decision on which one to go with. Keep up the great work and we hope to see you on the road somewhere soon.
Thank you! All the videos I have ever seen are just talking or they do truck vs. truck testing! I have never seen one where they take both and F350 and an F450 and hook them to trailer and show you the numbers! We wanted the F450, but the math told us we would be overweight with our RV, so we got the F350! They are both great trucks, but you have to understand they have different limitations! Thanks for watching and I am glad you enjoyed the video!
@@PavingNewPaths yes there are very few people that say and realize there is a weight capacity difference. So glad you showed that in real world towing of a fifth wheel camper. Luckily our 5th wheel maxes out at 16,800 lbs GVWR so we should be good on the F450. But I’m glad you showed for your application you needed the F350. Hopefully this will help a lot of others be able to make informed decisions.
The F450 is a class 4 truck. The lessor payload is only advertising. The F450 is heavier and it’s all unsprung weight. The wider front stance and bigger brakes, alone, make it a much better choice. Tighter turning radius and better stopping capacity.
The door sticker and the registration will be a class 3 truck rated at 14k! If you wanted a class 4 truck you should have got thre CC F450, but the F450 PU you have is nothing more thsn a less capable F350
Beautiful Fords! But I'll stick to my commercial chassis, has more torque and power then I'll ever need and we will never wear it out! Oh and tons more room in it all for the same price too!
@@PavingNewPaths we all have to do what's best for our families! That is what I love to see and hear other opinions which in turn helps others like me! 🇺🇸👍
Full time RV? Several people have already mention RAM and Freightliner. It would be nice to see a comparison of those and the GM stuff. But that would take a lot of time and effort. I have RAM 2500 and 3500 diesels, but if I were full timing I'd be looking at the Freightliner. In all cases you need more than a car license because the trailer is over 10,000 so there's no point in having the truck derated.
This was really just to show that F450 everyone buys is not a real F450, but a badged up F350 with options, and most likely less capable! In reality we are at the max of a class 3 truck and should be looking at class 4 or 5 as an option, with a Freightliner sports chassis being an ideal tow vehicle for these big RV'S! The licensed part is only half true, you follow the rules from your start! Most states have no additional requirements if you are moving personal goods not for hire! There are 13 states that do require a Class A non CDL for anything over 26,000! We are from Texas so that is what we have, CDL means commerical, so unless you are towing RV'S for money you usually don't require any additional license! I can also get a Peterbilt and tow my RV without a CDL as well, because I am not transporting the RV for money!
Just ordered a 2023, had to go with the F350 because Ford has closed the ordering bank for 450’s. I just sold my 2011 350, and also have a 2019 F450. I’m a huge fan for the 450
You created a very informative video describing the differences between the F350 and F450...excellent work. Regardless, it doesn't do much to explain how much better the turning radius and brakes are on the F450. The turning radius is huge in everyday travel with the trailer behind the truck. Parking lots, keeping the trailer away from curbs when turning right...so much easier. I updated from the F350 to an F450 to pull our Momentum for these reasons. A bonus is the commercial tires. I get that the payload capacity is more on the F350. Fully loaded, I'm very near my maximum on my trailer. Given a few hundred pounds difference between the two trucks doesn't justify giving up the braking and turning radius for me (IMO) as these are much more important when it comes to the safety of me and my family. We all pick what works best for us and that's what makes our country great. I hate the mine is better than yours mentality. You have a great looking outfit. Best wishes to you and safe traveling always.
Thank you! I really made this to show that the F450 and the F350 are the same truck! They are just different variations of a Class 3 Ford dually! We wanted the F450 but knew we would be 600 plus lbs. overweight at the very minimum once we had the rig loaded down! The F350 is more capable when it comes to the payload side of things so that is what we went with! I will agree the turning is nice, but we have never not put our camper somewhere because we couldn't turn!
Yes, it's a great truck, but if your F450 has a bed and is not the real class 4 F450 then the F350 is a better truck! It has more payload and higher towing capacity! Why pay more for less if a truck! Now if you have the class 4 F450 then yes it should tow better!
Other considerations $worth$ mentioning before deciding is insurance cost of both trucks AND if you do exceed the weight ratings of truck, camper, or both AND have an accident, you'll have no insurance and can lose everything!
Insurance was another big reason we went away from the F450! Not only would we be overweight the insurance at least in Texas was double that of an F350!
This is an excellent comparison. Now, if someone would only do a F250 vs F350 comparison to show all the peeps that towing a 40ft toyhauler weighing 17,000 lbs is NOT a good idea for someone who thinks their 3/4 ton will do it safely. We bought a Weekend Warrior back in 2005, and 8 days later went from a fully Banks'd F250 to a 2005 F350 dually, and it was the best thing for us. The F350 was much more stable, the braking was much better, and I wouldn't even dream of towing with a F250 with the larger toyhaulers. Yet, there are so many out there.
Thank you! I will go farther and say one shouldn't be towing a trailer this size with a SRW F350 either! We made a video showing how to weigh your set up, and at almost full weight on the trailer my dually is at max capacity! Check it out here ruclips.net/video/Zv6wrVJUvwQ/видео.html
For most 5th wheel RV haulers, the 350 provides better RV alignment since 17 wheels sit lower than 19.5. But if you want better brakes and get medium duty tires instead of light duty tires, you need a 450. Front steer links and hubs are larger/thicker on a 450. For most people, a 350 is fine. But if you are going to be on the road 12hrs a day and/or pulling heavy loads everyday like a tow truck, 450 hands down. I would buy a 550 if I could get it insured for recreational use.
That was the exact point of this video if you own an F450 pickup meaning it has a bed on it you don't have an F450! You have an F350 with some added features that make it less capable! Both trucks in the video are class 3 trucks rated at 14k GVWR! They F350 has a higher payload and max towing capacity than the F450! There is a cab and chassis F450 that is the actual F450 as it is a class 4 truck just like the F550 you mentioned that is a class 5 truck!
@@PavingNewPaths it all depends on the intended use. Pulling RV’s, then sure f-350 DRW is fine. Pulling hot shot loads or towing vehicles…the f-450 would be better becuase it is different where it counts…the brakes…the Beefed up rear axle…the beefed up front end controls. Most folks that own a f-450 think of their trucks more as a scaled down f-550 than a scaled up f-350. Bottom line..figure out what you need and get that. Simple.
Again thats why I made the video! It doesn't matter what you think the F450 is scaled down from! Bottom line if you have an F450 with a pickup bed on it all you got was an F350 that weighs more and is now less capable! If I was going to be pulling heavy loads I would want the truck that has the higher payload capacity and the higher max towing capacity so the F350 is the right truck! I am not saying its better than an actual F450 but the F450 pickup is nothing more than a less capable F350! If you needed more you would get the class 4 F450 or the class 5 F550!
I have a 2016 F350 platinum dually diesel. It has the wide track frt axle and a 4:30 rear gear. From what I hear they only made these in 2015 and 2016. I found the unicorn:::)))
You do have the unicorn it's called the Tow Boss! As soon as they decided to sell a non-commercial rated F450 they stopped making the F350 with the wide track front end!
It was interesting making the video because they are so similar I expected there to be a huge difference! When I factored in the extra weight from all my accessories I added to my truck the F450 would be way over 14K. Not everyone travels like us but because of that the F350 is the better choice! I was interesting to see that a 20k trailer will max out both of these trucks!
Awesome JOB, Probably the BEST compairsion test and explanation of weights and trucks ,I had a F-450, and NOW I have a RAM -3500, I was shocked, how well the RAM compared , the Ram rode and drove better, I'm a TRUE BLUE guy, , LOVED THE ENDING....LMBO.. Keep these videos coming Brother, hope to see you guys on the ROAD, or in Tenn..
When I bought my F450 it was a purchase of opportunity. I was shopping for a dually of any flavor and coming up empty. I found this 2019 F450 Lariat with only 16k miles on it for a good price. That said, I do love this truck. PS: you DID add the Companion hitch weight twice when adding your 490lbs to the F450 scale weight, that weight included his hitch.
We took the weight of both trucks the way they were scaled so the F450 had full fuel, passengers and the companion hitch when we weighed it for a total of 9880Lbs. We also had the scale slip of the F350 with full fuel passengers the companion and all the other accessories I have added to the truck for a total of 9840 lbs. After scaling them with full fuel, passengers and all the components we found the F450 was only 40 lbs. heavier than the F350 and that is because all my accessories I added brought my truck up to almost the same weight as the F450! (Remember they both have the companions in the truck when we scaled them) So in order to figure out how much all my stuff weighs including the hitch (I only reference the hitch because the turnover ball hitch will weigh more than the puck style hitch and I wanted to include that weight difference) my toolbox, bed cover, air system and air bags we can use the payload capacity from each truck because the payload is the difference between the weight of the truck and the max GVWR of 14,000lbs. The F350 payload is 5375lbs and the F450 payload is 4845 leaving a difference of 530lbs. So stock for stock the F450 should weigh 530lbs more than the F350 but since we have added accessories and upgrades, the F450 was only 40lbs heavier that the F350. They were both scaled with their own companion hitches installed and the weight was accounted for. My accessories including the hitch (because there is a difference in the base plate on the turnover ball vs the puck system) my tool box, bedcover, air system, and air bags all equal 490lbs of things I have added to the truck! So If I were to own and F450 I would be an additional 490lbs heavier as I would have all the same components installed!
I REALLY like the end comments on "you CAN overload these trucks LEGALLY". There are so many people out there who have no idea that they are out there technically illegally. None of them will find out till they get into a major accident and the right lawyer gets hold of them and that info. We have one of those bottom feeder lawyers here in Houston who makes his and other douchebag's livings on truck and rig accidents so this is not just fear-talk. Great work on the video.
Glad you liked it! I wanted to make it to show that the number on the side of the truck doesn't mean bigger and better when it comes to the F450! I love how they all say its just derated on paper and can haul way more than 14K!
The F450 is an awesome truck and the rims really seal the deal for it! Each truck has different capacities and as long as your understand what they are you should get the truck that works best for you!
Grate video, We have a 2022 F450 that We ordered new and the difference in price is offset by the 6.7 Power Stroke and the 5th wheel/gooseneck prep pack is stock on the 450 and are options on the the 350 making them basically the same price!
Thank you! In this video the F350 platinum was 15k cheaper than the F450 king ranch, both were bought brand new! While some may find the price is similar that is not the norm! You eithet got a great deal on an F450 or overpaid for the F350!
Great video. That aside, the comments section shows that no matter the truth, or numbers, folks will get what they want and then justify their purchase; regardless of facts. ;) Both ARE good/great trucks though. I think for most, either will work more than fine... it's on the extremes that things become more crucial (and that was really your point). Cheers!
Thank you finally someone gets the point of the video! I never said the F450 wasn't a good truck, I love it and wanted one but the more I did my homework the more I started to realize that it wouldn't work for me! I think the majority like myself see the 4 and think it's a bigger truck! When in reality it is not, Ford just convinced you to pay more for an F350 with some options on it! That is all I wanted to show, that the 4 doesn't mean bigger!
450 has bigger brakes.. More robust wheel bearings and he front axle wheel bearings are more robust too.. I have a 350 and all that stuff wears out if you are working it.. Air bags on the rear for the 450 isn't a bad idea.. Working on all these big trucks is a workout. Nice video
Thank you! We wanted an F450 but the math never worked for us! We would have always been overweight because of the lower payload numbers on the F450! In the end we realized if you get the F450 pickup version you're not really getting and F450, but and F350 with some extra features! In the end if they would just make an Actual F450 or an F550 with a nice trim level other than work truck that would be a good choice
@@PavingNewPaths I get you.. A lot is the "crew cab"... If you get a single cab you can make up all that different and more.. If you can stealth out the Def system you can shave another 1000+ out of it.. IF you get a 550 you have a detuned motor to deal with.. Not necessarily bad but its really our government working hand locked with manufactures to put the screw on all of us.. Dealer is happy to keep you coming back to the garage for repairs and the Feds just want to make sure you get the least value for the inputs we make.. It's not sustainable and its coming to a head in the not so distant future.. Best to you guys! Take care now
I'd say that the backing test is more of a driver deal than a truck thing. The 350 could have done it in one shot. Sure, the 450 made it easier, but not a necessity to get it in there in 1 shot. At least in this instance.
100% it is a driver thing, That is why I had him do it! I back in that spot all the time and know how to set it up! His first attempt I said why don't you try that again, you set up like it was going to turn like your F450 and it's not! It was interesting to see, especially when I did back it up, I didn't even use the turning radius as I am used to how the F350 maneuvers and set the truck up that way!
Thank you so much for watching and the kind words! This video took a lot of time and effort to set up and film, but we feel it was worth it in the end!
I’ve always wondered what was the difference between the two wow, thanks for the time u put in to the video, like the real world more then 2 people, kinda my scenario, and reality how often are there going to be just two with you, your going to go with people not just two of you ,camping 👍
Thank you! We tried to show real world numbers and weights, to show that the F450 is not the best choice if you have a big heavy fifth wheel RV! It is a nice truck, but often not the best choice when needed payload capacity!
I know i am a bit late to the party here, but loved this video. Perfect timing for me as i am on a search for a DRW Truck. Love the channel, and thanks for the hard work that went into making this.
Thank you! We really enjoyed making this video, and it was a lot of work, but it was also a lot of fun and hopefully we were able to shine some light on the actual numbers of both of the trucks for you!
Great video. I didnt catch the king pin and hitch set up, both were on a gooseball? Also the 450 has beefier brakes, I didnt hear much mentioned about that while driving. Did they feel different at all?
Thanks! The RV had a Gen-Y pinbox and both trucks had a B&W fifthwheel hitch! The brakes are bigger but you get no more life out of them than the brakes on the F350! Have no idea what the stopping power is but i would imagine it would me similar as one has 17 inch rims and tires and one has 19.5 inch rims and tires! Same as the 4:30 vs 4:10 rear end the tire diameter between the two effectively makes them equal! They drive similar, but the F450 is rougher due to the tires!
With the exception of the leather seats, both heated and cooled, plus adaptive cruise control everything shown in these trucks is available in the XLT.
But if you wanted to do a video about wasting money, the starting point should have been to start with an XL or my favorite the XLT. I’ll save my money on all of the frills that I don’t need. I purchased my XLT and it had all of the features that I needed without the much higher price of options that I didn’t want.
That is a great point and it still works for the comparison, an XL F350 vs the XL F450 will still show the same results, the F350 is the better choice! The real point was to show that the F450 with a bed that everyone buys, is not an F450 at all but a badged up f350 with some options!
While all 3 make great trucks now, the Ford to everyone else ratio is pretty one-sided when it comes to hot shots and RV'S! We see Ford 10-1 on the highways pulling over the other brands!
😂 Loved the intro! 😂 I went with the F-450 (2019) primarily because of the wide-track front suspension. The 8' difference on turning radius does not sound like a lot if you haven't driven one, until you get into a tight spot. What I gave up was some mpg's because of the 4.30 rear end being the only option, stupid expensive tires (19.5") with limited selection for replacement, and a little bit of ride comfort. I don't ever plan on towing more than my 24k (30' flat bed I have for work) or my 20k Seismic, so I would have got the 4.11 or even 3.73 rear end if it was an option. From what I understand, the F-450 is actually derated to keep it at 14,000#, which prevents it from going into a commercial truck class. The capacity is lower because the bigger brakes & suspension components are heavier than the F-350. I believe there is a difference in the front frame as well. The loaded driving roughness on the F-450 improves a lot when you put air bags on it. You can't go wrong with either truck. In the end, unless you need max. towing/payload capacity, it's just a matter of personal preference, and are you willing to give up some mpg's for the wide-track suspension. The only thing I can say you were totally wrong about is.....I GO RV'ing BY MYSELF !!! 😆 Great side-by-side real world comparison!!!
Thank you! I tried to have fun with it since it's a hot topic in the RV world! They are both great trucks and the turning radius is pretty awesome! The problem with the big RV's is you will run out of payload capacity well before you ever reach the max towing capacity of these trucks! We were about to get an F450, and the math never checked out for us to not be over 14,000lbs. on the truck! That is why we went with the F350 we knew how heavy our camper would be living in it full time! (For this video we tried to max the RV weight out but normally we are about 500lbs less when living in it) In the end if you max these trailers out at 20K you are at the upper limits of both of the trucks! The bigger RV's if loaded down need bigger trucks!
@@PavingNewPaths I always cringe when I see guys pulling big trailers, especially ANY triple axles, with SRW trucks, or telling people in the forums/groups “It’s fine! I’ve been doing it for years!” Then they like to call anyone that is telling folks how to do it right, the tow police. I just tell ‘em, It’s fine!!!…until it’s not…
That is true the tow police guys usually are the ones that doing it wrong! There is no way a triple axle toyhauler should ever be pulled by a SRW truck! I heard a saying once that if your trailer has 6 tires your truck better have 6 tires!
The owner of the F450 said no matter what air pressure he runs the truck is considerably rougher than the F350 and tends to wander on the Highway! Still a nice truck but something to consider when deciding which on to get!
@@wj2791 I run 65 psi in my F250 front and rear, you could probably get away with 65 psi running empty but keep an eye on your tire wear, if it starts to wear funny, increase 5 or 10 psi at a time till it wears evenly.
Backing in with the 350 was the drivers fault. I could not help but notice he straightened the wheel out twice when he should have kept it hard left while chasing it.
I prefer the F450 because of the tighter turning circle and bigger brakes. As far as the weight issue that can be fixed with paying attention to how much cargo you carry. Seriously look at what you take with you when traveling. There is always the what if to justify what to take with you when RVing. ( if you have a 5th wheel camper why do you need a 200lbs + steel hitch bolted to the back of the truck? remove it ) There are so many ways to save weight to stay within the legal weight limit if you try.
The F450 is a great truck but you have to realize that the heavier your RV is the better choice is the F350! Now lets talk about the weight, you may not have any context about the video or our channel! We are a fulltime RV living channel and the type of videos we make are based on fulltime RV living subjects! The reason our RV is this weight is because we sold everything we own to travel fulltime, so the weight of the RV is what we have! The reason we decided to make the video is there are a lot of full-timers out there and most of the time the bigger RVs are pulled by F450! We also wanted an F450 but the math always said that we would be overweight! That is why we went with the F350 over the F450! You would be surprised at how heavy the weekend warriors are in the toy haulers! Especially if they have a side by side in the back! It does not take much to overload your trailer or your truck with the size of the RV's these days!
Great video. I know all too well about going way over on payload. Was always buying too much trailer for my truck. Last had an F250 with a Reflection 367BHS. Definitely was way over by at least 1,200 lbs with the trailer dry. Just got an F450 and it's a world of difference.
Thank you! We are glad you enjoyed the video! Going from an F250 to a dually will make a huge difference no matter what RV you have! Same power but a whole lot more truck!
We mentioned the bigger brakes but decided not to talk about the 10 bolt vs 8 bolt hubs as it adds no value to the video! The number of bolts does not change the classification of the vehicle as they are both class 3 trucks rated at 14K. The Front axle rating on the F450 is 6000lbs compared to the F350 at 5990lbs and both have the same rear axle rating of 9900lbs.
I agree they also make it challenging to find aftermarket rims if you wanted to change from the 19.5 to the 20inch so you could have a better choice in tires!
Thank you! There are a lot of opinions out there when it comes to the F450 vs F350 in the RV world! I wanted to show the numbers and why we have the F350 and not the F450!
Great video - Thx! I have a SRW F-350 and my set up is now exceeding my GAWR for the rear by 200 - 800 lbs. pending load placement when fully loaded on a toybox with 16,800 lb. GVWR. I am looking to move up to a dually and this comparison is exactly what I was looking for a complete "head to head" same day, same trailer, same load, everything weighed! Super helpful. Even though the F-450 has a lower payload, both are 14,000 GVWR. This video confirms my conclusion and I will take the better turning, bigger brakes, rear end and axles of the F-450 and live with the loss of 530 lbs. of payload difference - maybe drop a few options like the sunroof to help offset that difference. Again thanks for taking the time to do such a thorough comparison!
Great video and fantastic data. Thank you. I bought a 450 mostly for the turning radius. Hoping the tires and brakes don't cost that much more. Our 5'er is 19K GVWR so the numbers will be safe, at least a lot better than our 350 SRW. 4.30 gears are amazing towing over the Canadian Rockies. Rarely left 9th gear up the steep hills keeping the speed limit, and could stay in 10th for a huge portion of the trip. Like you said though, once you get into that 20K+ range for a trailer you're into some number crunching to keep it legal and the 350 has the edge. But only for that in my opinion, and its a biased opinion.😉
Thank you for your comment! We made this video to show what the heavy RV'S look like on both trucks! This is also the reason we decided on the F350 over the F450! Ours has the 4:10 rearend, combined with the 10 speed we are very similar in how it tows! We have pulled over many passes and we hardly ever drop down many gears! They are both great trucks!
A couple here on RUclips upgraded to the F450 because of it’s turning ability, wider stance, better highway stability and with bigger brakes, better stopping power.
The F450 is an awesome truck, and all those features are nice! But if you have a big RV the payload capacity of the F350 will likely be better suited for your application!
If Ford had not stopped the max tow pkg with the wide track front axle I would agree. I have had both and the 450 turning radius (and way more brakes) makes that model a must for 20k plus 40 foot trailers I have. Also the 450 has a much heavier and more durable steering gearbox.
Both trucks are great but in this video I showed you how both trucks are maxed out with a 20,000lb trailer and the F450 is significantly overweight more than the F350! The F350 is more capable of handling the heavy pin weights of the Toyhaulers than the F450 if you want to remain within the limits of the truck! If you go to a bigger trailer like the 21K, 24K and the 26K you likely need a class 4 or class 5 truck to safety handle the weight!
Thank you for doing such an excellent job on this comparison! You hit every point and did so exceptionally well. There is so much confusion out there on these two trucks and you all cleared all that up very well . I have a 2022 F350 Lariat 6.7L and the reason I went with the F350, (although I wish I could get the front axle on an F350 with 19.5" wheels as an option), is because I have a truck camper that comes in at 4800 pounds and I pull a 16' trailer. I needed the extra payload capacity and I also drive empty a lot so I did not want the 430 gears. I have the 3.55. Nice job and thank you again!
Thank you! I made this video because there is a lot of misinformation out there on these two trucks! The F450 pickup is not the truck you thought you were buying most of the time! Yes, it is nice and has lots of cool upgrades but they take away from the payload capacity! At the end of the day the F450 is just a variant of the F350 but the badge on the side gives it the impression that it is a bigger and better truck!
I would choose the F-450 over the 350 every time because of the bigger brakes, 19.5 tires and wheel combo, and the turning radius. If you were on the road every day like I've use to do you would take the 450 as well. The safety of the stronger tires and stopping power of the brakes alone for my family is a selling point. Hauling across the country the 350 would fall apart long before a 450, trust me I know.
We have been hauling across the country for almost two years now with our F350 and it is not falling apart! This video was not about opinions but based on facts that a 20k RV will overload the F450, and that the heavier your RV gets the better choice, if your staying in a class 3 truck is the F350! We have also never had a problem maintining control of our RV or stoping it with the F350, Thats because if you set your rig up properly the trailer brakes stops the trailer and the truck brakes stop the truck!
That's cute, you're literally comparing driving across the country a couple hundred miles at most a couple times a week if that, in your videos you even claim that. I'm talking about starting up my truck in California, driving across the United States back and forth possibly 3-4 times a month. Running my truck non stop for sometimes a month without shutting it off. Do some real Hauling and driving with your 350 then you might understand my view.
@@1KDirtmod If your doing that much driving your F450 pickup is not the right choice for you either! The actual class 4, F450 would be the better choice! Say what you want the F350 and F450 are the same truck so one would not last longer than the other becuse they put a 4 on the side of it!
Correct, '17 and later may be the same truck. Mine is a '08 unfortunately with a 6.4l. Yes the engine is known to be a big issue but I have had no issues with it the 3 straight years I was on the road.
@@1KDirtmod I made the video to show what was best for us and why we did not go with the F450! There are alot of guys out there with RV'S bigger than ours and they say they went with the F450 because they needed it! When really we are maxing both of these trucks out with a 20,000lb RV!
You didn't "test" the biggest advantage of an f450, you mentioned it, but didn't test it. The larger wheels on an f450 is because the brakes are bigger. Towing capacity, payload...etc is one thing...stopping all that weight is another, this is where the f450 shines, in the more powerful breaking
Actually I think it is a wash yes they have bigger brakes but they also have a larger rotation circumference! I don't know the math but I would love for someone to figure out what the rotating circumference on the F450 vs the F350 and the brakes for each to see if it is actually any more braking force! It is also irrelevant because your trailer has brakes so no matter what you tow with the truck stops the truck and the trailer stops the trailer! If you have the F450 pickup I hate to tell you, but you have a less capable F350!
Thank you! I love both trucks! But I see a lot of people puling thse big RV'S with the F450 and I know how close we are to maxing out our F350! I made the video to show what it really looks like on the scale!
Thank you! We had a lot of fun filming this one, there was a lot that went into this one! We are actually packing up now getting ready to hit the road soon! The adventure videos will be just around the corner!
Great comprehensive test! I went with the F350 even though I wanted the F450 for the 19.5" tires as it would have had the same tire size as my 5th wheel. I won the argument with my local Ford dealer when I told him the F350 had more pin weight capacity. If memory serves me correctly the F450 also didn't offer tire pressure monitoring (I could be wrong). Anyway, I was very impressed with our trip through South Dakota. I never felt like I had a lack of power and averaged 11mpg over about 1200 mile trip (most of it towing) a 16k, 40' 5th wheel.
You are on the money with this! Pin weight may be under payload but how it transfers may change that. Great video best one I have seen in this topic. I have an old 350 that is at 12500 gvw and 20000. We are right at the edge of being over.
Thank you! I really wanted to show that the F350 and the F450 are basically the same truck! The F450 has some upgraded options but, they make it a less capable truck and we showed that with the scale slips! We wanted the F 450, but the math would not work as we knew we would be over 14K on the truck when loaded down for fulltime living! Also, it made us realized that a 20,000 lb trailer if loaded will max out both trucks!
@@PavingNewPaths sorry everyone badgering you! Love your content and if you roll through south Mississippi again.....we'll feed ya right and make ya fat!
Way late to the comments on this video, but your consensus is the same as my own. I opted for the F450 90% because of the front axle turn radius and larger brakes, 10% because the F350 wheel arches and wheels are ugly... I said it. While I agree there isn't any disputing the 14,000 lbs GVWR, social media and web forums dating back 10 or more years will have folks in the US saying that the GVWR doesn't actually matter in most of the US if the wheels, tires and axles are rated for the weight being carried. While I've never been able to find any written evidence to back this up, it's only in Canada where I've found anything that says the GVWR may not be exceeded, ever. This might sway the purchase decision one way or the other for those people. One other point, specifically with your ~500 lb offset of equipment between the trucks... Nearly ALL of that extra weight that makes an F450 and F450 isn't sprung. It's in the tires, wheels and brakes. The difference in frame section components isn't enough to make a difference with the ride height prior to loading the axle, in my opinion. The 1 inch difference in initial ride height and 0.25" overall is likely that you've already preloaded the F-350 with ~500 lbs of equipment and nothing more than that. None of the F-450 weight is sitting on the rear axle. I've gotten a lot of flack from guys in town with F-350 DRW trucks that love to point out their truck can haul more, and that's fine. We use this truck to haul a truck camper while towing a boat, and that turn radius makes life at the boat launch, camp grounds and storage lots soooo much easier. I'm honestly unsure if an F350 is capable of getting out of my rear driveway into the alley without a 7 point turn. The F450 can pull right out, but it is TIGHT! As others have pointed out, not optioning the sunroof, tailgate step, adaptive steering, or skid plates, my F450 has a payload of over 5,000 lbs. You can option these trucks out to almost make up the difference between models in weight. The diesel vs gas options in a F-350 are pretty well the same conversation.
Great and informative video!
Thanks for watching JD. That means a lot coming from you!
@@PavingNewPaths no problem! Tons of great data and real world comparisons here. Outstanding work! I might link it in a video.
Feel free to use it how you want! After all the comments I have received I was wondering how long until you found the video! Glad you liked it!
@@PavingNewPaths actually noticed it several days ago but didn't check it out until today.
Made a video and mentioned this one with a link to your channel: ruclips.net/video/tGa3PabT7WM/видео.html
The F450 is essentially a Medium Duty truck that Ford stuck in a light duty class. If Ford were to rate it properly many states would consider it commercial. That's why the F450 has a lower payload rating. it weighs more, but the GCVW can't exceed 14500 pounds. it's all a numbers game for taxes and registrations.
They F450 is built on the same Frame with the same rear leaf springs and the same rear axle housing! While I won't disagree the tires and wheels can support more weight than the F350 the bottom line is they are built on the same bones and are both Class 3 trucks! It is not a numbers game it was a way sell a higher trim F350 that they call an F450! The real F450 is a Class 4 truck rated at 16,500lbs!
Nonsense. It just allows guys like you to think so.
@@kevinbarry71 No it allows guys like you to feel ok about overloading your truck!
@@PavingNewPaths I think you misunderstand. I was replying to the original poster. I would never overload a truck. The previous guy thought he could do that with a 450
@@kevinbarry71 I am sorry I did mis read your comment!
Thanks for the video!
I own both an F350 and a 2022 F450. I definitely agree on the ride comments. My comparison is between a 22 F450 and 20 F350 dually.
You talked a lot about the weights of the trucks but more simply, the difference between the pay load is only because the F450 is heavier due to the wide track steering components, heavier wheels/tires, brakes and rear end differential. In other words, since the mfg keeps both trucks at a 14K GVW, the payload is the difference between the weight of the truck and the GVW.
I would argue that if the mfg did not de-rate both trucks, the F450 would hands down have a higher payload mainly because of the much bigger brakes that can stop a heavier payload. “Handling a bigger weight” should also include brake capacity, tire weight capacity and ability to accelerate which you did not discuss. You can’t put a price on safety and while you touched on a lot of good points, the extra braking power, tire weight capacity and the pulling power of the bigger/heavier 4.30 rear end of the F450 was not really considered in “which can handle more weight” in the video (big omission IMO). You mainly looked at “payload” which is not the whole story when looking at which is better for pulling 20K lbs.
Lastly, I have never heard a F450 owner wish they had bought a F350 but I have heard plenty of F350 owners wish they had an F450.
Thank you! I think both trucks are great, we wanted the F450 but in every scenario we would be overweight! They are both class 3 vehicles rated at 14,000lbs so at the end of the day it doesn't matter what they may be rated for they are in the same class, making the F350 more capable in terms of payload and with the 4:10 rear end it can tow more as well! When towing big RV's you will max out payload well before you get anywhere near the max towing capacity of either truck! Also when towing any trailer, your truck brakes are not stopping the trailer, that is what the trailer brakes are for! I made this video because the F450 PU is not an F450 it is an F350 with some extra features that make it less capable! The actual Class 4 F450 that is rated at 16,500lbs is a more capable truck, but the F450 everyone buys is not that truck!
What is the difference in gpm of your two trucks, thanks
@@jerryfisher9530 With these two trucks it's virtually the same mileage! The F350 has 4:10 rear end! If you had a 3:73 or 3:55 it would be much better! Both trucks get around 18 empty anf 8-9 loaded!
LMAO at "Ford put more components on the F450 to make it less capable". You put wayyy too much weight on the 14k gvwr, instead of important things like brakes, wheels, axles and steering.
Great info! Thx!!
I don't know much about trucks but I do know that you put in an enormous amount of time for this video. Great job.
Thank you! This was the most time-consuming video I have made yet! The planning took a few days! Almost 12 hours of filming, and over a week of editing! It was fun but a lot of work to put videos like this together!
Hands down the best F350 vs F450 video I have seen to date. Very informative. Great job with the real world testing.
Thank you!
As a longtime operator of a 379 Peterbilt I would choose the 450 both trucks meaning the Fords are rated on paper as the same. But the 450 is made to do maximum work all day every day , The 350 is for the weekend warrior . The difference and ride quality is mainly due to the profile of the sidewall of the tires. Taller sidewall has more deflection and is less stable under loads also tread pattern where is a thing on high profile tires. That is why the 450 has the larger wheel size and a shorter sidewall more miles per tire. so if you’re just towing your camper to Florida once a year or Arizona and you go camping occasionally the 350 will probably be fine. But if you’re a full-time RV or I would not pass up the 450 the price is very close when comparably equipped same motor same transmission. By the way nice job on the video I watch the entire thing before I come in it and I think you did a thorough job.
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the video! I would say a flat top Pete would be my preferred choice in tow vehicles!
Agree < , I do electric now :) I did love Pete with old Detroit :)
I would love to build a highbred 379 Pete I can imagine the power of the electric motors in a big truck. Kind of reminds me of a locomotive and how powerful those are. There are some people building highbred semi tractors, but it’s in its infancy I think it will game in popularity but it’s gonna be slow. From a maintenance level I think it would be superior.
I prefer my 2017 Ford F450 XL over any F350! It has far fewer options than the other trim levels which makes it lighter and results in a little over 5,000 pounds of payload capacity. The larger brakes, exhaust brake, awesome turning radius, and beefier rear axles give give me peace of mind while towing our 43-foot Keystone Fuzion 417 toy hauler. I've towed our RV for nearly 9,000 miles through the mountains, through very tight campgrounds with overhanging tree canopy, etc. and it does it all with ease!
You sir have the best one as you have the upgraded features and the payload capacity! We wanted the F450 but because of payload we went with the F350! Since we live and travel full time we wanted the comforts of the top trim levels! Our F350 came with 4:10 rear end and when mated to the 10 speed it pulls great! We have traveled over 20,000 miles towing through the mountains out west and never worried about power or controlling our rig! They are both great trucks just what works best for your set up!
Tim, if you did not have a trailer to pull, would you still be buying F450 over F350? Currently, I drive 2020 DRW 6.7 Lariat and is planning to put the order in for 2023 Super duty. I do not pull, but do carry up to about 3500 lbs few times in each month. I do drive pretty fast when freeway opens up. Did you do any after market for TPMS? Are you having any vibration type of issue on your tires? Are you having hard time to find the tire shop to do the maintenance on your F450?
@@wj2791 Yes, I had to add a Tireminder TPMS, I needed it for my triple axle toy hauler anyway.
If not towing a large RV, the F350 is a MUCH better choice! The 4.30 axle ratio of the F450 is a huge negative if not towing a large rig. The F350 has factory TPMS, smoother riding non-commercial tires, a much better axle ratio for cruising at highway speeds and likely better fuel economy than the F450.
@@timpayne431I let my heart make the decision over my head. I did order F450 Limited. :)
I will probably install Centramatic in the front and will look further into Tireminder TPMS for the truck.
The 450, or any superduty, exhaust brake is a gimmick. It’s so weak, might as well not even have it
JD (The most humble RUclipsr) told me to come over and subscribe! I was not disappointed, great job.
Thanks for coming we are glad you enjoyed the video! We are so grateful that JD watched our video and mentioned us on his channel!
JD Who?
@@lcseds JD is the guy that does the BTBRV channel!
The difference is in 3 areas. 1. Traction for stopping and slippery surfaces. 2. Braking. Bigger brakes means more control and shorter distances. 3. Turning radius. The 350 wont stop as fast an an emergency and won’t grip as well with less rubber on the road. The rear width is a bonus in windy conditions as it sways less with 4 tires.
This had to be one of the best videos I've ever seen in this subject matter, thorough, in depth and explained well!
Thank you! Glad you liked the video!
Got an '17 F-350 XLT and pulled out RV's from Indiana for a couple of years...After 360K miles, all I can say, is the only problem is the turning radius. Besides that...All good...
The F350 is the best truck to have if you need to handle the heavy pin weight of the big fifthwheels! Get it with a 4:10 rearend and it can out tow the F450 as well! Turning is fine when I am towing, I have never been pulling our 44ft trailer and wished I could turn sharper! It would be nice to have the turning when driving in town without the trailer!
Going from a SRW F-350 short bed King Ranch to a F-450 Platinum, I noticed the ride was actually much better. In either case the DRW is a better riding truck than a SRW. Tire cost is an issue, especially with the tighter turning radius causing tire scrub, which the factory Conti's do not hold up to well. Putting a proper steer tire on, goes a long way for lasting tires. Roadmaster has them for under $250, which is about what tires for a SRW with 20's cost. IT is the turning that sold me on the truck, I live off a narrow county road with ditches on either side, and the SRW SB would be nose in the ditch backing my trailer in, the LB would be even worse, but now, it skirts the ditch, that 8' makes a huge difference. There are some sacrifices you have to consider, the 4.30 gears are fuel hogs, and are needed for spinning those massive wheels, and a bit harsher ride, but still better than the SRW SB. That is really what it all comes down to between the two. If the larger turning radius works for you, the F-350 DRW is the better choice.
Both trucks are amazing, and if we didn't need the payload capacity of the F350 we would be in an F450! We think the turning radius is awsome, but I have never not been able to put this RV where I wanted it! I think you get used to the truck you have and learn how to make it work! With the 4:10 gears our effective ratio is the same when you factor in the difference in tire size! We think 18 mpg is amazing for a dually!
I have the best 09 F350 on the road...that's I pulled that POS 6.4 out of it and put in a 6.7 Cummins....it is a beast and does great off road or on the highway. It is SRW and I use it to haul my 2015 Northern Lite Truck Camper...been using it for 7 years now 7 months out of the year and it carries that TC like it was built for it.
The 6.0 and the 6.4 were not the greatest motors Ford decided to go with! That id a unique comboa Ford with a cummins!
The biggest thing I've seen is no matter what 450 trim level you buy, they all start out with the same "bones" whereas a 350 you have to spec it out and ensure the proper tow packages are installed. Much easier, in my humble opinion, to buy a 450. It's all ready to go. Just how much comfort/convenience you desire on the trim package.
We are talking about the version that everyone is using to pull the big RV's nowadays! That is usually a lariat and up trim package for both, so having to "work" to spec them out is not a thing! You are right both the F350 and F450 start out as the same bones and use most of the same parts! When it is done The F450 is a very nice truck but it is an F350 with some nice upgraded that make it less capable for what the truck is being used for! Pulling heavy Fifth wheels with 4k plus pin weight!
@@PavingNewPaths Completely understand the "version" of the 350 everyone is using. My point is no matter what trim level 450 you buy it IS the right version already. No need to spec out anything. Plug n Play. You buy a 450 it's ready to tow. No need to make sure it has dual rear wheels, etc..like you do on a 350. 😎
@@randymoy5190 choosing a drw 350 when specing the trucks takes the same work as choosing a 450. There is a box you check for both if you want a 350 drw, or a 450. I suppose that 'drw' can make it hard since you have 3 extra letters you have to read. You make it sound as if you are sweating pointing the mouse and clicking.
@@dchambers25 No sweat at all if I get a 450. The work is already done. 🤠
@@randymoy5190 yeah you are right! I had to click another box on the order form and my finger cramped up. Not to mention I had to add the bedliner, choose limited trim, rapid supplemental heat and wheel well liners! Truly an exhausting 45 secs to do all that!
We've had our 2022 F350 now for a year towing a 42 foot 5th wheel, 2 axles. Yeah, sometimes I wish we'd gone with the 450, but I've learned how to drive it pretty good. Been in some very tight spots and making 1 or 2 adjustments isn't a big deal. I also know that the more options you add, the less you can haul, so we opted NOT to get the 4x4 and stuck with the XLT with the moon roof. The trucks done it's job superbly with just over 30k miles on her. Not sure why your F450 didn't have the upfitter switches, but the 22's came standard with them on the 450 from what we were told and saw. We love our truck, it does it's job and that's what matters.
The F350 is the better choice for towing these bigger RV's than the F450! The reason is the F450 pickup version is not actually a bigger more capable truck! It is just and F350 outfitted with some extra options that in turn make it a less capable truck in terms of Payload and also max towing if the F350 has a 4:10 rear end! The F450 is nice but if it has a bed on it you didn't get bigger better truck, you just got an optioned F350! Now there are a few out there that went with the actual F450 that is a class 4 truck and that one is a bigger and better truck! But it is a work truck and doesn't come with very nice creature comforts on the interior!
You really nailed this topic and provided real world data with realtime opinions from you guys who have awesome rigs! Thank you for the hard work producing this and making sure it is interesting.
Thank you! We are glad you enjoyed it!
This has gotta be the best get-down-to-the-facts video between these two trucks, with indisputable data to back it up. Very well done.
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the video!
Depending on what you use the truck for....yes the f450 does turn sharper than the f350 (BUT) the biggest thing in my book is the wheels and tires and brakes on the f450. I've had both and will definitely stay with the f450 period! Yes the f350 can haul more weight than the f450 but hauling running is one thing but when it comes to stopping and handling your not going to beat the f450. That's my opinion I run the road pulling a 40ft gooseneck and yes I need the stopping power of the f450!
Yes you definitely need the stopping power! If we weren't so heavy, we would have kept the 450 on our list when we were looking!
@@PavingNewPaths yes sir it all depends on your usage! I was considering on another f350 just for weight difference but when you start decending those steep mountains yes and exhaust brake is a help but if you really need to get on the binders because of an accident or something out of the ordinary those big brakes make all the difference!
Great video! We towed a 5th wheel with a 2017 F450 with ease. There are some fundamental differences between an F350 and F450, such as commercial grade tires, suspension and wider front axle. Both have the same or similar tow/capacity ratings, however with the wider front axle the F450 has a much tighter turning radius, quite surprising really for such a big truck, which is very useful in many of the tight campgrounds there are these days.
Both trucks are great and the turning radius is amazing on the F450! We wanted the F450 but because we teavel fulltime in our RV we needed the payload capacity of the F350!
@@PavingNewPaths The only reason why the payload is heavier on the F350 is because it’s a lighter truck. Both having to be within the 14,000 pound limit. But aside from technical numbers the F450 can carry handle more payload it’s just can’t be published because of the weight restrictions on that class of truck. Mainly the commercial grade tires, I think there is some difference in the axles that makes it a heavier truck.
@@skoffco It is still a class 3 truck rated at 14,000 gvwr! Both trucks are built on the same frame with the same suspension! Yes the F450 has tires and rims rated higher than 14k but you don't use the highest rating to determine what a machine is capable of! The F350 tires and rims are also capable of more than 14k but for some reason the F450 logic does not apply to the F350 only the F450 is capable of more than 14k!
lets face it, my guess is 75%of the people who own these trucks and campers pay cash, in turn you could afforg to swap axles and add some fender flares for coverage if needed. and 99% of DOT doesnt stop non commerical vechiles so I would maybe through it out there that with good air bags or a kelderman systme Dot would prob not say much if you were a couple G's over....but if your a hotshot driver you better be under
@@PavingNewPaths Also the F450 has bigger brakes.
Having recently had both, the F450 squats less than the F350 DRW under the same load (fifth wheel). Although both are 14k GVWR and the F450 weighs more, giving it a lower CCC on paper, everyone knows that the F450 is derated to keep it listed as a Class 3 truck. And for those bigger trailers, the larger brakes on the F450 make it an excellent choice.
Since the F450 and the F350 have the same rear springs, they will squat exactly the same! In my video the F350 squatted 1/4 more but that is due to the fact I have an additional 490lbs worth of stuff in my bed and under my bed over the F450! All the F450 owners want to believe so bad that the truck is derated and that Ford made a special truck for them and listed it at 14K to keep it a class 3! Thats all opinion the fact is the truck is built on the same frame, same rear springs and same axle housing so if the F450 is derated so is the F350! At the end of the day the truck is a class 3 truck rated at 14K GVWR, the opinion of what you think it is does not matter! And lastly when towing a trailer, the trucks brakes do not stop the trailer, that's why you have trailer brakes! When you set it up correctly the trailer will stop the trailer and the truck will stop the truck!
In a rare event that the trailer brakes fail or the pigtail gets detached, the bigger brakes on the F450 could be a lifesaver.
@@johnhwang339 We fail to mention these trucks are full of so much technology that having a brake failure wouldn't just sneak up on you anymore! These trucks both the F450 and F350 will alert you if the trailer plug became disconnected and even if you had a wiring problem or short! Even if the brakes on the trailer failed, the exhaust brake combined with the tow mode of the 10speed make these trucks more than capable!
Made a lot of good points- there are people who are thinking 450 vs 350 and probably think "Oh, 4 > 3, 450's obviously the way to go!" But it's not that simple.
Something else to consider(That I've noticed quite a few people forget) is that the numbers advertised(AND in the towing guides) are for base model trucks. As you implied when you were talking about both trucks being overloaded with 20' campers, and their being bigger campers out there- your Lariats, King Ranches, Platinums, etc can't (legally) tow the same amount of weight as say, an XL. So like you said, your options are to either move to a beefier truck(commercial truck territory), or give up some of those creature comforts and go down to a Lariat or better yet(for payload), XLT or XL, where you'll then be well within the limits on both trucks(But on longer trips I don't blame people wanted more creature comforts lol)
glad you liked the video! This is why wr made it most belive the F450 is bigger because the number, when infact it is smaller, in terms of towing capacity and payload! It is true the less option truck can do the most work! We have basically maxxed out our F350 platinum with a 20k trailer! If we went bigger we would need more truck!
I have owned both and will keep going back to my 350. It works for what I need it to do.
We will start with a 350 too as long as we are fulltiming and in such a heavy rv!
I own a 2020 F450 Limited that I upgraded from an F250. I tow a 14k 5th wheel which was right at the limit of the F250. The F450 tows and stops this rig with much more confidence. I did upgrade the fuel tank from a 48 gallon tank to a 68 gallon tank (love this upgrade). I went with a 20k Reese gooseneck and ball setup for a number of reasons. I have access to to my full bed. Saves on the payload weight and for me, the gooseneck seemed much more confidence inspiring when hooking up than a king pin and 5th wheel hitch (no tug test needed). I will say one draw back to the F450 are the 19.5” commercial tires. They tend to track the grooves and ruts in the road which can be nerve wracking. Also limited options on tires and places to purchase and install ( you can’t just go to a Discount Tire). Also no TPMS option from factory on F450, I bought an after market TPMS system for truck and rig. Overall I love my F450.
We think the F450 is a great truck! For us we would have been over 14K with our set up that is why we went with the F350! We needed the payload capacity, since we travel fulltime as a family of 5, we are never going to be any lighter than we are now! We love the B and W as it is the easiest and best fifth wheel hitch on the market when it comes to hitching and unhitching no matter what angle! You also can never have a false positive connection as it will not lock unless it is right! It also allows me more adjustments as far as ride height and bed position when dialing in the ride! We think whatever truck works for you is the right truck!
I'll choose under-rated and over-engineered every time. Love my F450.
They're both great trucks! Can't go wrong with either one!
@@PavingNewPaths turning radius on the 450 is so much better & that alone is worth it.
@@jakethomas6583 The turning radius is awesome but imagine telling people you bought a less capable truck because it turns! The point is if you need the payload the f350 is the better choice! If you don't the F450 is also a great choice!
@@jakethomas6583 And the tire wear is way better with the 19.5 tires and the brakes are better the steering gear is bigger!the front frame1/2 is bigger ,same as chassis cab 450! .Your frame thing is wrong !
@andrewslagle1974 what is "your frame thing"??
I've had both and we rodeo all over the US. Love the test, but now that I've had the 450, I'll never go back to a 350. The turning does it for me, along with the deeper gearing. It pulls as easily as my last 350 with was tuned and deleted. I see better fuel mileage with this stock 450 vs my stock 350. For me, I like the brakes, turning radius and the gearing. I've now had 2 different friends that have ordered 450s after driving mine.
I think maybe if the F350 didn't have the 4:10 there might have been more of a difference in the trucks! But an F350 with that rear end will out pull and have more payload than the F450! We wanted the F450 and were disappointed to learn that it is only a class 3 truck and because of the extra weight it is less capable than the F350! Now if they would make a true class 4, F450 with a bed and nice trims that would be the way to go!
Your 100% correct i have had the same experiance!And the 19.5 tires last way longer!
First of all I want to say that was an excellent job you guys did and the numbers don't lie. Here's where I see the differences in the trucks if we're talking safety, starting at the ground the 350 has 10 ply tires the 450 has 14 ply tires you are nowhere near the Max capacity of the tires on the 450. Then let's go to the brakes the brakes are a lot larger on the 450 and yes the 350 can stop the trailer and truck but if your trailer comes unplugged or wires pinched on the trailer and you lose the brakes on the trailer the f-450 comes into play immediately safety Factor. As far as looks well I like the looks of the 19.5 in rims over the 17-in rims that right there friends is worth a dollar 2.98 at least. Well until you replace the tires and I can say that with experience I just put two michelin's on the front of my 2020 F450 $962 for two. I've been towing a Weekend Warrior toy hauler that is a 49 footer with a 17 ft garage and yes it's 49 ft. Let's just say it might have taken you more than two tries to back my trailer in that spot with a F350. I've had a few 450s I had a 2008 put 160,000 miles on. 2010 put 150,000 miles on it and it blew the engine. A 2016 and put 86,000 miles on it traded it in on a 2020 and it just rolled over 50,000 miles on it. I almost forgot the reason I was going with the 450s is the height of the bed rails my weekend warrior was a 2009 doesn't have the ground clearance the newer trailers have the 450 compared to the 350 the edge of the bed was pretty close to 3 in lower the Chevy was like 5 in taller and the Dodge was six or seven inches taller which made those not work with the trailer I have. The place she should have really compared to 350 and the 450 is in the Safeway parking lot once again that's where the 450 shines.I really do think you guys did a great job but one truck doesn't fit all jobs.
Thank you! Here is more numbers for you the rear tires on the F350 combined have a load capacity of 11,640lbs so they far exceed the rear axle rating of 9900lbs! The new trucks with the 10 speed, when in Tow mode with the exhaust brake on do such a great job of handling these trailers that I hardly ever rely on my brakes to do much but come to a complete stop! I do agree the 19.5 rims are way better looking than the 17's! We had issues with our RV and bedrail clearances when we first got it, and we ended up changing the pinbox on the RV to fix the issue! I will say the F450 is better for daily driving, but we have taken the F350 all over the place and the only time we have had problems was not because of turning, but more because maybe a dually shouldn't be there!
The F450 are 1.2 inch bigger on the back and 1inches bigger on the front. This is to compensate for the taller heavier tires. Overall braking power between the 2 trucks is the same. The taller heavier 19.5 inch tires take more brakes to stop.
@@williamreigart4998 Good point!
Fantastic, really appreciate your thoroughness. We are trying to work out if we need a 350dw or 450dw. Now have a much better idea. Thank you!!
Glad to help! If you have any other questions when doing your research, let us know!
You can get the GM with an AVAIL. MAX GVWR 23,500 lbs. The AVAIL. MAX GCWR 37,000 lbs. So it allows more payload but caps out the towing with the GCWR. Don't know all the Texas laws but I can tow a camper and since it is all personal use not for pay it is not CDL. If you get payed to tow then you would be CDL. Some states are more restrictive. Truck I had licensed dual use farm years ago I had to stay under the ag rules for weight not the CDL unless I transported interstate then I fell under CDL. People need to download the state drivers license and vehicle license regulations for their state and talk to the DMV or DOT with any questions they have. I still have people that say my truck with air brakes requires a CDL and there is no state law on air brakes in the state I have it licensed. Air brakes is part of the CDL test but not the state law for non commercial. There is so much confusing information given by dealerships even that it can really be confusing if you do not read the regs for your state to see what you need to do. Move up to a Medium Duty truck if you are towing heavy all the time is safer.
In Texas anything over 26,000lbs requires me to get a Class A Non CDL! If I was for hire, I would have to have a CDL! It is a really easy process you take a written exam and go do a driving test with your rig! I made the video to show that the RV's nowadays are getting so big they are outgrowing the trucks! A 20,000lb RV is at the upper limits of what an F350 and an F450 can handle! If you're going bigger it's time to get away from the Class 3 truck and get truck that is rated for more than 14K!
@@PavingNewPaths I agree when you are getting up to the 20K at least a medium duty truck is better. Most of the people that use a HDT or class 8 truck for pulling their RV get there vehicle plates and drivers license in South Dakota, no CDL or nonCDL class A is needed.
I would actually really like a Freightliner sport chassis, but it would make our adventuring a lot more challenging!
@@PavingNewPaths International has a Medium duty line that is not to big but would not have the horsepower you have now. They even have a blackcherry interior that looks pretty nice. Not the 6500 GM truck, I don't remember the model, I got to look one over about a year ago that was pulling a toy hauler.
I don't own a truck yet, this video is SUPREMELY informative! Thank you!
They are both great trucks, but if you are going for a big heavy RV the best truck is the F350, if you need more then you need to look at the actual class 4, F450 that doesn't come with a bed! If you are considering the F450 that has a bed just realize it is not more capable than the F350!
i’ve had a 2020 F350 DWR and now a 2022 F450. If I had my choice to do it all again, it would be the F450 every day, all day. I absolutely love this truck!! Don’t notice a major difference in the ride. It’s not mainly about it’s turning radius in campgrounds, it’s the turning radius when using that truck as your every day vehicle driving in and out of parking lots of towns and tight spaces.
Both trucks are great but the bigger Rv you have and more payload you require the F350 is the better choice! The F450 pickup is just a less capable F350! If you actually needed the payload and towing ove that you need the actual class 4 F450 or bigger not the F450 pickup version!
@@PavingNewPaths I get all that. The pin weight on my Grand Design Solitude is 3,155 lbs plus all other payload in the truck added together well within the limit of the F450. I’m simply saying for me having owned an F350 and now the F450 the turning radius is a big plus when using the vehicle as an every day driver when Unhitched from the camper. And I must say, the wide front fenders and axles look bad ass. 😛😛
The soltitude line up is well within the capability of the F450! I made this video because I meet so many F450 owners with RV'S as big as mine or bigger and they all claim they needed the F450 for the capacity! Thats jusy not true if you needed the capacity you would have gone with an F350 or the actual class 4 F450! I won't take away from the turning radius but at the end of the day your still driving a dually and therefore turning is one thing but actually fitting is another!
I am in same exact shoes. I currently have 2020 F350 DRW and just ordered F450 Limited which will likely be ready in early 2023. How do you check air pressures? Did you add tire balancer?
@@wj2791 i use a typical style air gauge used by class 8 truck drivers. It’s about a foot long and has a 45° angle chuck on the backside. Purchased it at a truckstop I think.
For balancing I have installed Centro-Matic balancers on the front only.
If you buy a new 450 or 550 if you register it as a RV insurance will be cheap and if you have truck camper you show them your RV and with a 5 th wheel the same if you don’t do this they register it ac a commercial truck and insurance will be really high. So don’t forget .
That really depends on the State! Here in Texas we couldn't get a class 3, F450 the one that is rated at 14k GVWR insured on a personal plan! Let alone the actual Class 4, F450 or the Class 5, F550! We almost changed our residency over this as we wanted the F450, that is until we realized the the F450 with a bed isn't a bigger truck at all! So we got the F350 and stayed Texans!
Great video as I own a 21 F450 Limited. #1 choice was the turning radius. And the beefed up brakes. It’s what ever package you can afford or find these days. Both 350 and 450 dually are great. Love those big hips on either one. I’m happy with my payload for what I tow. So carry on my friend. Get what’s suitable for you. Dislike when people bickering about mine is better. Choose what is better for you.
Exactly I was very neutral about both because we did originally want the F450! But because of payload we needed the F350! Thats exactly right you should get the truck that best fits your needs!
It is correct both are great. I had both pickups but I prefer the larger brakes and turning radius. I travel to Montana from South Texas and back in the winter. Not to mention the wind through Wyoming. Drive through there in the winter heading back south. It even pushed my Ram 3500 drw to the side while driving 45 mph. The F450 held the ground in the cross wind. I only drive at a max 65 pulling out triple axle XLR Thunderbolt. It pulls amazing even up and over the big long Mountain over from Raton NV to Trinidad Colorado.
@@terrypetersen4039 We also have the 4:10 in our truck making it the same max towing as the F450 so we know what you mean as we have pulled our RV all the way to Montana and back with no issues!
@@PavingNewPaths
Actually the 2021 F450 Limited has 4.30 rear gear ratio
@@jimmaltese8513 All F450 have the 4:30 gear ratio! But an F350 with the 4:10 will have a higher max towing than the F450 because once you factor in the tire size they are esentially the ratio!
Thank you for doing this video. I'm purchasing a F350 diesel for pulling my 5th wheel. Total maxed out about 16,000lb. Some say not a diesel but I feel the diesel does a better job of towing. Thanks again for the video. You give it for the real people out there. Hug the kids.
Thank you! Glad you liked the video! Diesel will cost you more in maintenance and fuel, but I would never tow with a gas, especially if I was planning to tow alot!
The diesel or at least my 5.8 cummins will average out to 13 miles per gallon and it pulls like a mule at 1950?rpms and a gas motor would be 8 miles per gallon and the diesel would blow past that gas truck turning 5 grand rpm’s and the diesel just running at 1950 rpm’s and that’s where your fuel mileage comes from .
5.9 da
WOW That's a lot of work putting the video together. Thanks to you, Phil, and Eric for all yalls time! No dog in this fight since I have a gmc sierra 3500 Denali on the way but that was a great comparison, still not giving up my 2004 F250 Crew Cab 4x4👍 No matter what the sticker is what the truck is legally rated, ask any lawyer 😉
Thank you! It was a lot of work and a lot of fun! They are all great trucks and most likely all are capable of more than the 14K GVWR they are listed at! But I am a Ford Man!
If not maxed out the turning radius would be my biggest plus as parking is the most stressful part of Rv'ing
The turning radius is amazing, but i don't know any situation where the truck turning sharper would help me when parking! Sure when in town with no trailer it can be make driving significantly easier! But with a 45 ft trailer behind me have never wished I could turn sharper!
Also, tires was a huge issue on my 450. Traveling and trying to find a shop to replace/fix a flat was always a challenge.
We were all in on the F450, but we knew we would be close to maxing the truck out! In the end we decided the F350 was the better choice for the payload capacity! I have heard from several guys they spend so much time and money trying to get the 19.5-inch tires to balance and track right! I have even met several that went to 20inch rims so they could have better tire choices!
My GMC 450 came without a spare tire.
There was a note in the manual that said “You can’t change a tire on this truck. Call road service”.
How do you over come on issue on finding the right shop to work on your F450? Do you have TPMS? Centramatic?
Many truck stops have 19.5 in stock. Many commercial trucks and trailers use them too. Southern Tire always has them as do many large tire dealers. Now finding a 17.5? In a good weight rating? Not going to happen!
We have a 39 foot toy hauler up here in Alaska and its payload is 17,500ish. It is absolutely the longest possible camper you would want and still be able to find a spot big enough in most campgrounds. I would think the f450 would make life a little easier and possibly be able to fit in a few more spots.
The F450 is a nice rig but since it is a class 3 truck if you have a 20k or bigger RV you will likely be overweight! I have also never had my trailer hooked up and wished I could turn sharper, it's very mich the opposite! Most of the time I wish i could turn bigger because I need the room for my trailer to make it!
Thanks for this video. Just what I needed to see. If I want more maneuverability I will get the 450, but if I want more payload it will be the 350. I'm thinking if I go with the 17K RV I may go with the 450, but if I ever think a 20K is in my future. I might as well get the 350. Since I don't have experience with driving dually's and it may prove to be a benefit for just general parking without a trailer. The 450 may just be the winner. Thanks again.
Both great trucks, we wanted the F450 but since we travel fulltime, our truck and the RV are both very heavy! We would have exceeded the payload of the F450 and been overweight all the time! We had to lose some weight in our RV when we first started to get our weight within the limits of the truck and the trailer!
You cant argue with what's printed on a door sticker but the 450's have bigger, heavier rate axles and larger brakes which is a fact and my guess a 450 has the same rated axles, brakes and actual numbers as the 550's do (19,000gvwr) just de-rated for consumer sales. I'll take my 450 over a 350 just because of that and gotta love the turning radius! We towed our 44ft 5th wheel with it for the first time a couple weeks ago and the towing was a big improvement over our 350 SRW but where it shined was the tight roads in the camp ground, trying to navigate trees and tight turns would have required several re-do's with any other truck.
I won't argue that they don't have upgraded components! But for the sake of a discussion on this if the F450 with its upgraded tires and rims, the larger axle shafts and 10 bolt hubs is rated for more than 14K so is the F350! They are built on the same frame with the same rear leaf springs! They also have the same axle housing just different shafts and hubs! The tires and rims for the F350 are also rated close to 12K! So, if were just throwing around ideas here and the F450 is really rated closer to 19K then the F350 is probably closer to 16,500! These are just our opinions though and when I made the video, I knew I couldn't use my opinion I had to use facts and data! Because of that, I used the door stickers and the ratings the truck was given by Ford for the video and it's also the reason we went with the F350 over the F450! We needed payload capacity! I will say there are a few times I would have liked the turning radius in campgrounds!
Awesome video! I went from a 2012 F-450 King Ranch to a 2019 F-350 XLT about 2 years ago. I do miss the 450’s turning radius, but the ride was brutal. I’ll take the 350 for the ride alone any day.
My concern with all the manufacturers and all the weight numbers is this: how many people new or relatively new to RVing are buying trailers based on that 30,000+ pound towing capacity the manufacturers claim? Keep me away from the person towing that 26k# Luxe with an F-350!!!
I’m in my 20th year towing full-profile 5th wheels - and I learn something from every video you publish. Keep it up!
First thank you for the compliments! We wanted the F450 but the math never worked out for us! No matter what we did we would always be overweight on the truck! We went with the F350 because we needed the payload capacity! Most people don't realize that you can max out an F350 and an F450 with a 20,000lb trailer! You will run out of your payload capacity well before you get to the max towing numbers as RV's are very pin heavy! If you have a LUXE you better show up with a class 4 or 5 truck! I think you would be overweight with the trailer empty!
2012 F450 and 2020 F450 are oranges and apples
Our Ford F350 and Momentum 410 (maiden voyage) were just resecued off of the I90 Turnpike in Mass by a Dodge 5500. I made a couple of Shorts and videos about our experience. In all, three very expensive tow bills to get from Orlando to Laconia, NH. We appreciate your video as we are contemplating upgrading to a F450, Dodge 5500 or perhaps a Frieghtliner.
If you have a 410 and are running at max capacity, the F350 is the better choice over the F450! Unless you are getting the actual F450 class 4 truck, but if your considering that I would look at the F550 or the dodge 5500 they are really set up to handle the weight and have capacity left over!
Hands down the best review on these Super Duty trucks I have ever seen 👏
Thank you! We tried to compare them using real world data and limit our opinions!
I really enjoyed your video and your comparisons. Unfortunately, I believe you missed several important points. I bought my F450 for a number reasons that most people have not pointed out. Something I found everyone seems to miss. The BRAKES on the F450 are so much better and bigger from a safety perspective and have fewer problems. Next, the wheels and tires are also a huge issue from a safety point of view. The brakes will stop you so much better in your time of need, then then ones equipped, on the F350. The tires will last much longer and take so much more abuse than the 17” version. I know the manufacturer only uses the 17” to comply with the government fuel Regulation and cost. Even with the 19” setup, I immediately change out the rotors and pads. By the way, the 19” tires are the biggest contributor to the rough ride. There are several other positive reasons to buy the F450 that I’ll write about later, or if someone out there is well-versed on the subject, I would love to hear their views. Ted
I will agree the F450 is a nice truck and we wanted one! However if you pull a big heavy RV the F350 is the better choice! I also love how every F450 owner will defend the truck based on the brakes the tires and rims! The tires and rims on the F350 are rated for more than 14k as well so it is an irrelevant point! The brakes also don't matter because everyone that tows knows the truck stops the truck and the trailer stops the trailer! The bottom line is your F450 pickup truck is just a marketing ploy by ford to get you to spend more money for a less capable F350! If you wanted an F450 you should have bought the actual F450 class 4 truck rated at 16k!
I have been researching the differences in the F450 & F350 for almost a year now and this is by far the best video out there on actual comparisons. Thank you so much and great video. We are waiting on the order banks to open up in October to order our new F450. We will be upgrading to the Grand Design Solitude 390RK once we get the truck. We went to a dealership a while back to drive both a F350 & F450 to compare for ourselves. Even the dealer made the comment that the F450 had more cargo capacity and I had to correct him that actually it had less since it weighed more. But your video helped me be more confident in our decision on which one to go with. Keep up the great work and we hope to see you on the road somewhere soon.
Thank you! All the videos I have ever seen are just talking or they do truck vs. truck testing! I have never seen one where they take both and F350 and an F450 and hook them to trailer and show you the numbers! We wanted the F450, but the math told us we would be overweight with our RV, so we got the F350! They are both great trucks, but you have to understand they have different limitations! Thanks for watching and I am glad you enjoyed the video!
@@PavingNewPaths yes there are very few people that say and realize there is a weight capacity difference. So glad you showed that in real world towing of a fifth wheel camper. Luckily our 5th wheel maxes out at 16,800 lbs GVWR so we should be good on the F450. But I’m glad you showed for your application you needed the F350. Hopefully this will help a lot of others be able to make informed decisions.
Please read my opinion on the F450 I've had four of them I left my opinion in the the group message
The F450 is a class 4 truck. The lessor payload is only advertising. The F450 is heavier and it’s all unsprung weight. The wider front stance and bigger brakes, alone, make it a much better choice. Tighter turning radius and better stopping capacity.
The door sticker and the registration will be a class 3 truck rated at 14k! If you wanted a class 4 truck you should have got thre CC F450, but the F450 PU you have is nothing more thsn a less capable F350
Beautiful Fords! But I'll stick to my commercial chassis, has more torque and power then I'll ever need and we will never wear it out! Oh and tons more room in it all for the same price too!
I would love to have an HDT! But we still need our truck to get around as a family of 5 when we go exploring!
@@PavingNewPaths we all have to do what's best for our families! That is what I love to see and hear other opinions which in turn helps others like me! 🇺🇸👍
Full time RV? Several people have already mention RAM and Freightliner. It would be nice to see a comparison of those and the GM stuff. But that would take a lot of time and effort. I have RAM 2500 and 3500 diesels, but if I were full timing I'd be looking at the Freightliner. In all cases you need more than a car license because the trailer is over 10,000 so there's no point in having the truck derated.
This was really just to show that F450 everyone buys is not a real F450, but a badged up F350 with options, and most likely less capable! In reality we are at the max of a class 3 truck and should be looking at class 4 or 5 as an option, with a Freightliner sports chassis being an ideal tow vehicle for these big RV'S! The licensed part is only half true, you follow the rules from your start! Most states have no additional requirements if you are moving personal goods not for hire! There are 13 states that do require a Class A non CDL for anything over 26,000! We are from Texas so that is what we have, CDL means commerical, so unless you are towing RV'S for money you usually don't require any additional license! I can also get a Peterbilt and tow my RV without a CDL as well, because I am not transporting the RV for money!
F-450 because it turns better, and better breaking. But that is more important to me.
They are both great trucks! it is important the get the right truck for your needs! We needed the payload capacity so we have the F350!
Just ordered a 2023, had to go with the F350 because Ford has closed the ordering bank for 450’s. I just sold my 2011 350, and also have a 2019 F450. I’m a huge fan for the 450
I think they are both great and really wanted the F450! For us we needed the payload and would always be overweight with our RV and the F450!
You created a very informative video describing the differences between the F350 and F450...excellent work. Regardless, it doesn't do much to explain how much better the turning radius and brakes are on the F450. The turning radius is huge in everyday travel with the trailer behind the truck. Parking lots, keeping the trailer away from curbs when turning right...so much easier. I updated from the F350 to an F450 to pull our Momentum for these reasons. A bonus is the commercial tires. I get that the payload capacity is more on the F350. Fully loaded, I'm very near my maximum on my trailer. Given a few hundred pounds difference between the two trucks doesn't justify giving up the braking and turning radius for me (IMO) as these are much more important when it comes to the safety of me and my family.
We all pick what works best for us and that's what makes our country great. I hate the mine is better than yours mentality. You have a great looking outfit. Best wishes to you and safe traveling always.
Thank you! I really made this to show that the F450 and the F350 are the same truck! They are just different variations of a Class 3 Ford dually! We wanted the F450 but knew we would be 600 plus lbs. overweight at the very minimum once we had the rig loaded down! The F350 is more capable when it comes to the payload side of things so that is what we went with! I will agree the turning is nice, but we have never not put our camper somewhere because we couldn't turn!
I love my F-450, but I use it to do what it’s designed for, towing heavy. Night and day better than a 350.
Except we just showed you the F350 is the more capable truck especially when towing heavy!
I’ve had both, the 450 beats the 350 on towing heavy. Pulling over 30 K daily.
Yes, it's a great truck, but if your F450 has a bed and is not the real class 4 F450 then the F350 is a better truck! It has more payload and higher towing capacity! Why pay more for less if a truck! Now if you have the class 4 F450 then yes it should tow better!
Other considerations $worth$ mentioning before deciding is insurance cost of both trucks AND if you do exceed the weight ratings of truck, camper, or both AND have an accident, you'll have no insurance and can lose everything!
Insurance was another big reason we went away from the F450! Not only would we be overweight the insurance at least in Texas was double that of an F350!
This is an excellent comparison. Now, if someone would only do a F250 vs F350 comparison to show all the peeps that towing a 40ft toyhauler weighing 17,000 lbs is NOT a good idea for someone who thinks their 3/4 ton will do it safely. We bought a Weekend Warrior back in 2005, and 8 days later went from a fully Banks'd F250 to a 2005 F350 dually, and it was the best thing for us. The F350 was much more stable, the braking was much better, and I wouldn't even dream of towing with a F250 with the larger toyhaulers. Yet, there are so many out there.
Thank you! I will go farther and say one shouldn't be towing a trailer this size with a SRW F350 either! We made a video showing how to weigh your set up, and at almost full weight on the trailer my dually is at max capacity! Check it out here ruclips.net/video/Zv6wrVJUvwQ/видео.html
You had me hooked in the first minute and a half 😂 “This one has a hundred more 50’s” 😂
Thank you! We tried to have fun with the intro and are glad you enjoyed it!
For most 5th wheel RV haulers, the 350 provides better RV alignment since 17 wheels sit lower than 19.5. But if you want better brakes and get medium duty tires instead of light duty tires, you need a 450. Front steer links and hubs are larger/thicker on a 450. For most people, a 350 is fine. But if you are going to be on the road 12hrs a day and/or pulling heavy loads everyday like a tow truck, 450 hands down. I would buy a 550 if I could get it insured for recreational use.
That was the exact point of this video if you own an F450 pickup meaning it has a bed on it you don't have an F450! You have an F350 with some added features that make it less capable! Both trucks in the video are class 3 trucks rated at 14k GVWR! They F350 has a higher payload and max towing capacity than the F450! There is a cab and chassis F450 that is the actual F450 as it is a class 4 truck just like the F550 you mentioned that is a class 5 truck!
@@PavingNewPaths it all depends on the intended use. Pulling RV’s, then sure f-350 DRW is fine. Pulling hot shot loads or towing vehicles…the f-450 would be better becuase it is different where it counts…the brakes…the Beefed up rear axle…the beefed up front end controls. Most folks that own a f-450 think of their trucks more as a scaled down f-550 than a scaled up f-350. Bottom line..figure out what you need and get that. Simple.
Again thats why I made the video! It doesn't matter what you think the F450 is scaled down from! Bottom line if you have an F450 with a pickup bed on it all you got was an F350 that weighs more and is now less capable! If I was going to be pulling heavy loads I would want the truck that has the higher payload capacity and the higher max towing capacity so the F350 is the right truck! I am not saying its better than an actual F450 but the F450 pickup is nothing more than a less capable F350! If you needed more you would get the class 4 F450 or the class 5 F550!
I have a 2016 F350 platinum dually diesel. It has the wide track frt axle and a 4:30 rear gear. From what I hear they only made these in 2015 and 2016. I found the unicorn:::)))
You do have the unicorn it's called the Tow Boss! As soon as they decided to sell a non-commercial rated F450 they stopped making the F350 with the wide track front end!
@@PavingNewPaths problem is I have a F450 that’s been on order FOREVER!!! And can’t decide if I just wanna keep this truck….. ugh
@@PavingNewPaths as soon as I saw this video I was like yup need to see this!!!!!
It was interesting making the video because they are so similar I expected there to be a huge difference! When I factored in the extra weight from all my accessories I added to my truck the F450 would be way over 14K. Not everyone travels like us but because of that the F350 is the better choice! I was interesting to see that a 20k trailer will max out both of these trucks!
Awesome JOB, Probably the BEST compairsion test and explanation of weights and trucks ,I had a F-450, and NOW I have a RAM -3500, I was shocked, how well the RAM compared , the Ram rode and drove better, I'm a TRUE BLUE guy, , LOVED THE ENDING....LMBO.. Keep these videos coming Brother, hope to see you guys on the ROAD, or in Tenn..
It didn't take much to convince him to come make fun of the Ford guys at the end of the video! Thanks for your support and feedback! We appreciate it!
When I bought my F450 it was a purchase of opportunity. I was shopping for a dually of any flavor and coming up empty. I found this 2019 F450 Lariat with only 16k miles on it for a good price. That said, I do love this truck.
PS: you DID add the Companion hitch weight twice when adding your 490lbs to the F450 scale weight, that weight included his hitch.
We took the weight of both trucks the way they were scaled so the F450 had full fuel, passengers and the companion hitch when we weighed it for a total of 9880Lbs. We also had the scale slip of the F350 with full fuel passengers the companion and all the other accessories I have added to the truck for a total of 9840 lbs. After scaling them with full fuel, passengers and all the components we found the F450 was only 40 lbs. heavier than the F350 and that is because all my accessories I added brought my truck up to almost the same weight as the F450! (Remember they both have the companions in the truck when we scaled them) So in order to figure out how much all my stuff weighs including the hitch (I only reference the hitch because the turnover ball hitch will weigh more than the puck style hitch and I wanted to include that weight difference) my toolbox, bed cover, air system and air bags we can use the payload capacity from each truck because the payload is the difference between the weight of the truck and the max GVWR of 14,000lbs. The F350 payload is 5375lbs and the F450 payload is 4845 leaving a difference of 530lbs. So stock for stock the F450 should weigh 530lbs more than the F350 but since we have added accessories and upgrades, the F450 was only 40lbs heavier that the F350. They were both scaled with their own companion hitches installed and the weight was accounted for. My accessories including the hitch (because there is a difference in the base plate on the turnover ball vs the puck system) my tool box, bedcover, air system, and air bags all equal 490lbs of things I have added to the truck! So If I were to own and F450 I would be an additional 490lbs heavier as I would have all the same components installed!
I REALLY like the end comments on "you CAN overload these trucks LEGALLY". There are so many people out there who have no idea that they are out there technically illegally. None of them will find out till they get into a major accident and the right lawyer gets hold of them and that info. We have one of those bottom feeder lawyers here in Houston who makes his and other douchebag's livings on truck and rig accidents so this is not just fear-talk. Great work on the video.
Glad you liked it! I wanted to make it to show that the number on the side of the truck doesn't mean bigger and better when it comes to the F450! I love how they all say its just derated on paper and can haul way more than 14K!
Thanks for being so thorough, great video! I gotta say, those 19 in wheels alone are pulling me to the F450!
The F450 is an awesome truck and the rims really seal the deal for it! Each truck has different capacities and as long as your understand what they are you should get the truck that works best for you!
Grate video, We have a 2022 F450 that We ordered new and the difference in price is offset by the 6.7 Power Stroke and the 5th wheel/gooseneck prep pack is stock on the 450 and are options on the the 350 making them basically the same price!
Thank you! In this video the F350 platinum was 15k cheaper than the F450 king ranch, both were bought brand new! While some may find the price is similar that is not the norm! You eithet got a great deal on an F450 or overpaid for the F350!
Great video. That aside, the comments section shows that no matter the truth, or numbers, folks will get what they want and then justify their purchase; regardless of facts. ;) Both ARE good/great trucks though. I think for most, either will work more than fine... it's on the extremes that things become more crucial (and that was really your point). Cheers!
Thank you finally someone gets the point of the video! I never said the F450 wasn't a good truck, I love it and wanted one but the more I did my homework the more I started to realize that it wouldn't work for me! I think the majority like myself see the 4 and think it's a bigger truck! When in reality it is not, Ford just convinced you to pay more for an F350 with some options on it! That is all I wanted to show, that the 4 doesn't mean bigger!
450 has bigger brakes.. More robust wheel bearings and he front axle wheel bearings are more robust too.. I have a 350 and all that stuff wears out if you are working it.. Air bags on the rear for the 450 isn't a bad idea.. Working on all these big trucks is a workout. Nice video
Thank you! We wanted an F450 but the math never worked for us! We would have always been overweight because of the lower payload numbers on the F450! In the end we realized if you get the F450 pickup version you're not really getting and F450, but and F350 with some extra features! In the end if they would just make an Actual F450 or an F550 with a nice trim level other than work truck that would be a good choice
@@PavingNewPaths I get you.. A lot is the "crew cab"... If you get a single cab you can make up all that different and more.. If you can stealth out the Def system you can shave another 1000+ out of it.. IF you get a 550 you have a detuned motor to deal with.. Not necessarily bad but its really our government working hand locked with manufactures to put the screw on all of us.. Dealer is happy to keep you coming back to the garage for repairs and the Feds just want to make sure you get the least value for the inputs we make.. It's not sustainable and its coming to a head in the not so distant future.. Best to you guys! Take care now
That intro had my husband laughing!! Great content as always!!
Thank you!
I'd say that the backing test is more of a driver deal than a truck thing. The 350 could have done it in one shot. Sure, the 450 made it easier, but not a necessity to get it in there in 1 shot. At least in this instance.
100% it is a driver thing, That is why I had him do it! I back in that spot all the time and know how to set it up! His first attempt I said why don't you try that again, you set up like it was going to turn like your F450 and it's not! It was interesting to see, especially when I did back it up, I didn't even use the turning radius as I am used to how the F350 maneuvers and set the truck up that way!
Thanks for spending so much time on a GREAT VIDEO. A must watch for everyone deciding between F350 and F450 for RV use. #F350 #F450 #towingRV
Thank you so much for watching and the kind words! This video took a lot of time and effort to set up and film, but we feel it was worth it in the end!
I’ve always wondered what was the difference between the two wow, thanks for the time u put in to the video, like the real world more then 2 people, kinda my scenario, and reality how often are there going to be just two with you, your going to go with people not just two of you ,camping 👍
Thank you! We tried to show real world numbers and weights, to show that the F450 is not the best choice if you have a big heavy fifth wheel RV! It is a nice truck, but often not the best choice when needed payload capacity!
I know i am a bit late to the party here, but loved this video. Perfect timing for me as i am on a search for a DRW Truck. Love the channel, and thanks for the hard work that went into making this.
Thank you! We really enjoyed making this video, and it was a lot of work, but it was also a lot of fun and hopefully we were able to shine some light on the actual numbers of both of the trucks for you!
Great video. I didnt catch the king pin and hitch set up, both were on a gooseball? Also the 450 has beefier brakes, I didnt hear much mentioned about that while driving. Did they feel different at all?
Thanks! The RV had a Gen-Y pinbox and both trucks had a B&W fifthwheel hitch! The brakes are bigger but you get no more life out of them than the brakes on the F350! Have no idea what the stopping power is but i would imagine it would me similar as one has 17 inch rims and tires and one has 19.5 inch rims and tires! Same as the 4:30 vs 4:10 rear end the tire diameter between the two effectively makes them equal! They drive similar, but the F450 is rougher due to the tires!
Braking and stability is a bonus on the F450 when loaded with the largest of slide in campers!
Yes with a a truck bed camper the upraded brakes would benefit you! Stability I'm not sure I can buy into that!
Im not a Ford guy, but those new Fords coming out are sick!!!! I love the front end and the headlights!!!
I do like them, even if they give me chevy vibes with the grill and the side steps in the bed!
With the exception of the leather seats, both heated and cooled, plus adaptive cruise control everything shown in these trucks is available in the XLT.
Which would actually be the better choice in both models as they would have better payload numbers!
But if you wanted to do a video about wasting money, the starting point should have been to start with an XL or my favorite the XLT. I’ll save my money on all of the frills that I don’t need. I purchased my XLT and it had all of the features that I needed without the much higher price of options that I didn’t want.
That is a great point and it still works for the comparison, an XL F350 vs the XL F450 will still show the same results, the F350 is the better choice! The real point was to show that the F450 with a bed that everyone buys, is not an F450 at all but a badged up f350 with some options!
@@PavingNewPaths Valid points.
god I wish GM made a version of the Ford F-450. Love that turning radius and upgraded brakes!
I will say it is nice that the F450 is still a pick up truck! The 4500 and 5500 trucks just become so big and unusable for everyday life!
If Ford would put that turning radius on the F-350 I wonder if it would increase sales. In fact, put that same radius on all their super duty trucks.
@@emeraldmorningmist I feel the wide track should at least be an option for all models!
They do!
@@PavingNewPaths a wide track f350 dually would be great!
Ram 3500 are the best for towing full time. That is why 90% of the commercial hotshots use them religiously.
While all 3 make great trucks now, the Ford to everyone else ratio is pretty one-sided when it comes to hot shots and RV'S! We see Ford 10-1 on the highways pulling over the other brands!
😂 Loved the intro! 😂 I went with the F-450 (2019) primarily because of the wide-track front suspension. The 8' difference on turning radius does not sound like a lot if you haven't driven one, until you get into a tight spot. What I gave up was some mpg's because of the 4.30 rear end being the only option, stupid expensive tires (19.5") with limited selection for replacement, and a little bit of ride comfort. I don't ever plan on towing more than my 24k (30' flat bed I have for work) or my 20k Seismic, so I would have got the 4.11 or even 3.73 rear end if it was an option. From what I understand, the F-450 is actually derated to keep it at 14,000#, which prevents it from going into a commercial truck class. The capacity is lower because the bigger brakes & suspension components are heavier than the F-350. I believe there is a difference in the front frame as well. The loaded driving roughness on the F-450 improves a lot when you put air bags on it.
You can't go wrong with either truck. In the end, unless you need max. towing/payload capacity, it's just a matter of personal preference, and are you willing to give up some mpg's for the wide-track suspension. The only thing I can say you were totally wrong about is.....I GO RV'ing BY MYSELF !!! 😆 Great side-by-side real world comparison!!!
Thank you! I tried to have fun with it since it's a hot topic in the RV world! They are both great trucks and the turning radius is pretty awesome! The problem with the big RV's is you will run out of payload capacity well before you ever reach the max towing capacity of these trucks! We were about to get an F450, and the math never checked out for us to not be over 14,000lbs. on the truck! That is why we went with the F350 we knew how heavy our camper would be living in it full time! (For this video we tried to max the RV weight out but normally we are about 500lbs less when living in it) In the end if you max these trailers out at 20K you are at the upper limits of both of the trucks! The bigger RV's if loaded down need bigger trucks!
@@PavingNewPaths I always cringe when I see guys pulling big trailers, especially ANY triple axles, with SRW trucks, or telling people in the forums/groups “It’s fine! I’ve been doing it for years!” Then they like to call anyone that is telling folks how to do it right, the tow police. I just tell ‘em, It’s fine!!!…until it’s not…
That is true the tow police guys usually are the ones that doing it wrong! There is no way a triple axle toyhauler should ever be pulled by a SRW truck! I heard a saying once that if your trailer has 6 tires your truck better have 6 tires!
Wide track front suspension? Come on dude....
@@alextrainor2552 You've obviously never had to pull a big trailer into tight spots.....😂
That 450 is gorgeous
Yes, it is!
You don’t have to run 110psi in the F450 unless you’re loaded down, when you’re running around town air down and it will make it ride smoother.
The owner of the F450 said no matter what air pressure he runs the truck is considerably rougher than the F350 and tends to wander on the Highway! Still a nice truck but something to consider when deciding which on to get!
What PSI do you recommend for normal driving empty? or 2500 lbs on truck bed?
@@wj2791 I run 65 psi in my F250 front and rear, you could probably get away with 65 psi running empty but keep an eye on your tire wear, if it starts to wear funny, increase 5 or 10 psi at a time till it wears evenly.
Really a damn good and highly informative video. Hats off
Thank you!
By far the best vid I’ve seen with the comparison. Great job!!! Keep these great vids coming!!
Thank you!
Backing in with the 350 was the drivers fault. I could not help but notice he straightened the wheel out twice when he should have kept it hard left while chasing it.
You are correct he drove it and set it up like he was driving his F450 and was expecting certain outcome!
I prefer the F450 because of the tighter turning circle and bigger brakes. As far as the weight issue that can be fixed with paying attention to how much cargo you carry. Seriously look at what you take with you when traveling. There is always the what if to justify what to take with you when RVing. ( if you have a 5th wheel camper why do you need a 200lbs + steel hitch bolted to the back of the truck? remove it ) There are so many ways to save weight to stay within the legal weight limit if you try.
The F450 is a great truck but you have to realize that the heavier your RV is the better choice is the F350! Now lets talk about the weight, you may not have any context about the video or our channel! We are a fulltime RV living channel and the type of videos we make are based on fulltime RV living subjects! The reason our RV is this weight is because we sold everything we own to travel fulltime, so the weight of the RV is what we have! The reason we decided to make the video is there are a lot of full-timers out there and most of the time the bigger RVs are pulled by F450! We also wanted an F450 but the math always said that we would be overweight! That is why we went with the F350 over the F450! You would be surprised at how heavy the weekend warriors are in the toy haulers! Especially if they have a side by side in the back! It does not take much to overload your trailer or your truck with the size of the RV's these days!
Great video. I know all too well about going way over on payload. Was always buying too much trailer for my truck. Last had an F250 with a Reflection 367BHS. Definitely was way over by at least 1,200 lbs with the trailer dry. Just got an F450 and it's a world of difference.
Thank you! We are glad you enjoyed the video! Going from an F250 to a dually will make a huge difference no matter what RV you have! Same power but a whole lot more truck!
One difference you may have missed was the 450 has 10 bolt hubs with larger brakes
We mentioned the bigger brakes but decided not to talk about the 10 bolt vs 8 bolt hubs as it adds no value to the video! The number of bolts does not change the classification of the vehicle as they are both class 3 trucks rated at 14K. The Front axle rating on the F450 is 6000lbs compared to the F350 at 5990lbs and both have the same rear axle rating of 9900lbs.
@@PavingNewPaths The 10 bolt hubs does add to some of the extra weight compared to the 8
I agree they also make it challenging to find aftermarket rims if you wanted to change from the 19.5 to the 20inch so you could have a better choice in tires!
The Purpose of the Video was to show that Eric is a better truck driver 😊
Eric actually drove 95% of the time in this video, someone has to film!
Good comparison video between the two trucks. Both are great trucks and you did a good job of showing real data. Thanks
Thank you! There are a lot of opinions out there when it comes to the F450 vs F350 in the RV world! I wanted to show the numbers and why we have the F350 and not the F450!
Great video - Thx! I have a SRW F-350 and my set up is now exceeding my GAWR for the rear by 200 - 800 lbs. pending load placement when fully loaded on a toybox with 16,800 lb. GVWR. I am looking to move up to a dually and this comparison is exactly what I was looking for a complete "head to head" same day, same trailer, same load, everything weighed! Super helpful. Even though the F-450 has a lower payload, both are 14,000 GVWR. This video confirms my conclusion and I will take the better turning, bigger brakes, rear end and axles of the F-450 and live with the loss of 530 lbs. of payload difference - maybe drop a few options like the sunroof to help offset that difference. Again thanks for taking the time to do such a thorough comparison!
Great video and fantastic data. Thank you. I bought a 450 mostly for the turning radius. Hoping the tires and brakes don't cost that much more. Our 5'er is 19K GVWR so the numbers will be safe, at least a lot better than our 350 SRW. 4.30 gears are amazing towing over the Canadian Rockies. Rarely left 9th gear up the steep hills keeping the speed limit, and could stay in 10th for a huge portion of the trip. Like you said though, once you get into that 20K+ range for a trailer you're into some number crunching to keep it legal and the 350 has the edge. But only for that in my opinion, and its a biased opinion.😉
Thank you for your comment! We made this video to show what the heavy RV'S look like on both trucks! This is also the reason we decided on the F350 over the F450! Ours has the 4:10 rearend, combined with the 10 speed we are very similar in how it tows! We have pulled over many passes and we hardly ever drop down many gears! They are both great trucks!
A couple here on RUclips upgraded to the F450 because of it’s turning ability, wider stance, better highway stability and with bigger brakes, better stopping power.
The F450 is an awesome truck, and all those features are nice! But if you have a big RV the payload capacity of the F350 will likely be better suited for your application!
If Ford had not stopped the max tow pkg with the wide track front axle I would agree. I have had both and the 450 turning radius (and way more brakes) makes that model a must for 20k plus 40 foot trailers I have. Also the 450 has a much heavier and more durable steering gearbox.
Both trucks are great but in this video I showed you how both trucks are maxed out with a 20,000lb trailer and the F450 is significantly overweight more than the F350! The F350 is more capable of handling the heavy pin weights of the Toyhaulers than the F450 if you want to remain within the limits of the truck! If you go to a bigger trailer like the 21K, 24K and the 26K you likely need a class 4 or class 5 truck to safety handle the weight!
Thank you for doing such an excellent job on this comparison! You hit every point and did so exceptionally well. There is so much confusion out there on these two trucks and you all cleared all that up very well .
I have a 2022 F350 Lariat 6.7L and the reason I went with the F350, (although I wish I could get the front axle on an F350 with 19.5" wheels as an option), is because I have a truck camper that comes in at 4800 pounds and I pull a 16' trailer. I needed the extra payload capacity and I also drive empty a lot so I did not want the 430 gears. I have the 3.55. Nice job and thank you again!
Thank you! I made this video because there is a lot of misinformation out there on these two trucks! The F450 pickup is not the truck you thought you were buying most of the time! Yes, it is nice and has lots of cool upgrades but they take away from the payload capacity! At the end of the day the F450 is just a variant of the F350 but the badge on the side gives it the impression that it is a bigger and better truck!
I would choose the F-450 over the 350 every time because of the bigger brakes, 19.5 tires and wheel combo, and the turning radius. If you were on the road every day like I've use to do you would take the 450 as well. The safety of the stronger tires and stopping power of the brakes alone for my family is a selling point. Hauling across the country the 350 would fall apart long before a 450, trust me I know.
We have been hauling across the country for almost two years now with our F350 and it is not falling apart! This video was not about opinions but based on facts that a 20k RV will overload the F450, and that the heavier your RV gets the better choice, if your staying in a class 3 truck is the F350! We have also never had a problem maintining control of our RV or stoping it with the F350, Thats because if you set your rig up properly the trailer brakes stops the trailer and the truck brakes stop the truck!
That's cute, you're literally comparing driving across the country a couple hundred miles at most a couple times a week if that, in your videos you even claim that. I'm talking about starting up my truck in California, driving across the United States back and forth possibly 3-4 times a month. Running my truck non stop for sometimes a month without shutting it off. Do some real Hauling and driving with your 350 then you might understand my view.
@@1KDirtmod If your doing that much driving your F450 pickup is not the right choice for you either! The actual class 4, F450 would be the better choice! Say what you want the F350 and F450 are the same truck so one would not last longer than the other becuse they put a 4 on the side of it!
Correct, '17 and later may be the same truck. Mine is a '08 unfortunately with a 6.4l. Yes the engine is known to be a big issue but I have had no issues with it the 3 straight years I was on the road.
@@1KDirtmod I made the video to show what was best for us and why we did not go with the F450! There are alot of guys out there with RV'S bigger than ours and they say they went with the F450 because they needed it! When really we are maxing both of these trucks out with a 20,000lb RV!
You didn't "test" the biggest advantage of an f450, you mentioned it, but didn't test it. The larger wheels on an f450 is because the brakes are bigger. Towing capacity, payload...etc is one thing...stopping all that weight is another, this is where the f450 shines, in the more powerful breaking
Actually I think it is a wash yes they have bigger brakes but they also have a larger rotation circumference! I don't know the math but I would love for someone to figure out what the rotating circumference on the F450 vs the F350 and the brakes for each to see if it is actually any more braking force! It is also irrelevant because your trailer has brakes so no matter what you tow with the truck stops the truck and the trailer stops the trailer! If you have the F450 pickup I hate to tell you, but you have a less capable F350!
That was a great A/B compare. Thanks for all the detail. Well done!
Thank you! I love both trucks! But I see a lot of people puling thse big RV'S with the F450 and I know how close we are to maxing out our F350! I made the video to show what it really looks like on the scale!
Best test I’ve seen on these trucks back to back….great job!
Thank you! We tried hard to show what these big RV'S do to these two truck's!
Great video! It was a lot of work! Hope everyone is well and getting excited to hit the road again!
Thank you! We had a lot of fun filming this one, there was a lot that went into this one! We are actually packing up now getting ready to hit the road soon! The adventure videos will be just around the corner!
Great comprehensive test! I went with the F350 even though I wanted the F450 for the 19.5" tires as it would have had the same tire size as my 5th wheel. I won the argument with my local Ford dealer when I told him the F350 had more pin weight capacity. If memory serves me correctly the F450 also didn't offer tire pressure monitoring (I could be wrong). Anyway, I was very impressed with our trip through South Dakota. I never felt like I had a lack of power and averaged 11mpg over about 1200 mile trip (most of it towing) a 16k, 40' 5th wheel.
You are on the money with this! Pin weight may be under payload but how it transfers may change that. Great video best one I have seen in this topic. I have an old 350 that is at 12500 gvw and 20000. We are right at the edge of being over.
Thank you! I really wanted to show that the F350 and the F450 are basically the same truck! The F450 has some upgraded options but, they make it a less capable truck and we showed that with the scale slips! We wanted the F 450, but the math would not work as we knew we would be over 14K on the truck when loaded down for fulltime living! Also, it made us realized that a 20,000 lb trailer if loaded will max out both trucks!
@@PavingNewPaths sorry everyone badgering you!
Love your content and if you roll through south Mississippi again.....we'll feed ya right and make ya fat!
@@tedsheldon11 Thank you Ted!
Way late to the comments on this video, but your consensus is the same as my own. I opted for the F450 90% because of the front axle turn radius and larger brakes, 10% because the F350 wheel arches and wheels are ugly... I said it.
While I agree there isn't any disputing the 14,000 lbs GVWR, social media and web forums dating back 10 or more years will have folks in the US saying that the GVWR doesn't actually matter in most of the US if the wheels, tires and axles are rated for the weight being carried. While I've never been able to find any written evidence to back this up, it's only in Canada where I've found anything that says the GVWR may not be exceeded, ever.
This might sway the purchase decision one way or the other for those people.
One other point, specifically with your ~500 lb offset of equipment between the trucks... Nearly ALL of that extra weight that makes an F450 and F450 isn't sprung. It's in the tires, wheels and brakes. The difference in frame section components isn't enough to make a difference with the ride height prior to loading the axle, in my opinion. The 1 inch difference in initial ride height and 0.25" overall is likely that you've already preloaded the F-350 with ~500 lbs of equipment and nothing more than that. None of the F-450 weight is sitting on the rear axle.
I've gotten a lot of flack from guys in town with F-350 DRW trucks that love to point out their truck can haul more, and that's fine. We use this truck to haul a truck camper while towing a boat, and that turn radius makes life at the boat launch, camp grounds and storage lots soooo much easier. I'm honestly unsure if an F350 is capable of getting out of my rear driveway into the alley without a 7 point turn. The F450 can pull right out, but it is TIGHT!
As others have pointed out, not optioning the sunroof, tailgate step, adaptive steering, or skid plates, my F450 has a payload of over 5,000 lbs. You can option these trucks out to almost make up the difference between models in weight. The diesel vs gas options in a F-350 are pretty well the same conversation.
You know they are the same wheel arches, they just put a fender flare on the front because the front axle and tires are wider than the truck body!
@@PavingNewPaths I sure do, and it looks a lot better.
Best comparison video out there. Thanks for posting.
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!
@@TonyBenton0728
Yes, I have seen them. I still feel this was the best comparison. You do you.